Coachella has come to Fortnite! I’ll be real that I didn’t give much of a shit until I discovered that Porter Robinson was going to be performing and have some of his work incorporated in the world of Fortnite. I am a sad, bad gamer with a love for sentimental EDM and crossover battle royales so along I went to a themed creative island filled with new tunes and quests.
Epic Games is putting everything in the hands of its creators this time. Coachella Island is primarily dominated by user-created art installations and opportunities for players to snap virtual photography amidst a bunch of gorgeous new exhibits. You can find a selection of minigames that reward you with oodles of experience points and limited-time cosmetics before digging a little deeper into the central tower where a massive drop leads to a huge underground dance floor that reacts dynamically to the number of players and emotes.
It’s a cool little thing, and a clear effort has been made to mimic the overwhelming freedom that comes from real world music festivals. You spawn into a central platform awash with signs and directions for all the different attractions, including a handy fast travel system that makes it easier to get around instead of relying on dodgy jump pads. Lobbies are closed off, so you’ll only be with a small crew of other players who will cycle in and out to experience Coachella at their own pace. I only spent an hour or two taking in sights, but it still managed to be a surreal musical outing that once again showcases Fortnite’s metaverse potential.
There are no guns or competing for wins here, just an invitation to rock out to some music and take in the vibes. My first stop was a minigame that equips all players with shockwave grenades before splitting them into teams and tasking them with knocking each other away from opposite platforms. It isn’t timed with the music or anything, but the luscious graphical effects and electric pace make it enjoyable nonetheless. Outside that you can find other exhibits made by users which are more akin to interactive puzzles that prioritise cool design and trippy visuals over challenge. You’re meant to take it easy, and Coachella achieves that.
It’s also a bit janky though, and has been across both my play sessions. I dipped in ahead of the weekend to figure out where to watch select performances, complete some quests, and grab some cosmetics, but I was constantly subject to awkward rubber banding and other movement glitches that sent me plummeting into the abyss. It became awkward to play and only appeared to subside when I was in specific, instanced areas that aren't tasked with the balance of so many user created elements interacting with each other.
Certain minigames suffer from these issues too, making the act of flying through the air to catch balloons or accurately throw objects a bit of a nuisance. It could have been an overpopulation issue as the servers strained to cope with demand. Coachella is meant to be about moving to music and socialising with friends, even in the medium of Fortnite, so it’s a shame it wasn’t always possible. More refinement is needed, and hopefully it will come alongside future events.
But when I was standing on a floating platform next to a bunch of others performing emotes to the music while trying to guess a coming setlist the majority of these problems melted away, leaving behind what remains an unrivalled interactive media experience that still defies comprehension. I had my Leon Kennedy skin equipped at the time, so Resident Evil 4’s beloved himbo was seemingly taking a break from saving Ashley to take edibles with his fellow secret agents.
Fortnite continues to embrace the wider realm of popular culture in ways that few games are, and this official Coachella collaboration is so much more than a few fanciful cosmetics and throwaway quests. Epic Games understands the significance it holds and the vital nature of not only involving its community, but putting their creations on a pedestal and temporarily making them the stars. It brings players into a shared environment to celebrate art they adore, all with enough freedom to hit the griddy as Master Chief. Bugs and glitches aside, Fortnite’s Coachella is a triumph.