The BandurArt team loves to create awesome art and develop new video games. Our previous guides covered the importance of smart marketing, especially for indie projects from small teams and aspiring developers. This time we want to focus on another important aspect – physical and digital merchandise that popularizes the game and brings a lot of useful stuff for devoted fans. With the brilliant example of Fortnite merchandise, we will explain how developers should promote their games among the fan communities.
Major Types of Game Merchandise You Can Use for Promotion
1) Stickers
Let’s start with the most affordable and easiest merchandise for your fans. Stickers are affordable and fun to create. People may use your game’s stickers to enhance their laptops, desktop computers, and mobile phone surfaces. These free items make good promotional giveaway prizes while users share their images through social media. They are also easy to make – use the premade sticker mockup to create your unique sticker.
Start with a small but custom merch for your game title. For example, Fortnite peely merchandise is very popular because stickers are easy to store and use for different surfaces that can handle their stickiness.
2) T-Shirts
T-shirts with game designs and words make great sales because fans love to wear them. Players show their game dedication by wearing these items. Wearable merchandise for Fortnite and other games works like native advertisements when players wear it outside.
3) Bags
Game-themed bags such as totes and backpacks serve as functional and stylish promotional accessories. People carry them both as everyday items and during gaming events. Game studios can successfully promote their titles as they offer free event giveaways.
4) Sneakers
Younger players love products with brand logos. And you are probably about the sneaker hysteria of the latest decade. The merchandised shoes combine gaming aesthetics with stylish designs so gamers can integrate their play experience into their everyday outfits.
5) Figurines
Game enthusiasts always need collectible figures. The high-quality representations of game characters build deep connections across the player base. Such items become popular features when brands run promotional activities, especially for their collector market.
6) Toys
Most toy collections for games cross age boundaries because children enjoy them while adult fans collect them. For example, Fortnite toys make the game reach more players and make people look forward to the next release.
How Can Merch Help Your Game’s Promotion?
The BandurArt team encourages you to promote even the smallest games with a limited lineup of affordable merchandise. There are at least a few reasons to use this concept for your game marketing:
- Build a strong brand identity with T-shirts, hoodies, and game figures;
- Visual and emotional connection is easy to achieve through real items that a fan can touch and look at during the daily routine. It is a psychological reminder of the happy and funny moments they had during this game’s walkthrough;
- Consistency of your digital art and physical merchandise, so players can feel a part of the game’s world;
- Boost player retention with new methods of displaying the beauty of your game’s world and characters;
- Create a community where fans can recognize one another through the top-notch and unique merch;
- Earn extra cash to invest in the game’s new content;
Official Fortnite Merchandise by Epic Games
Epic Games thrives on its Battle Royale game’s popularity with its Fortnite merchandise’s official collection you can buy from their first international store.
The categories are quite versatile:
- T-shirts. You can purchase a T-shirt (just like other apparel) with game character’s skins, emotes, and cute battle stars at $25 or higher;
- Hoodies. You can get these awesome graphic items for about $60 and wear them when you need an informal outfit;
- Onesies. Fans now have a chance to stand out with the unique Durr Burger Onesie that only costs $70 from Fortnite’s official merchandise store;
- Backpacks. These accessories combine practical design with gaming character images;
- Phone Cases. Bright and recognizable Fortnite designs let you safeguard your phone and screen;
- Water Bottles and Mouse Pads. Everyday products that include Fortnite artwork to help you enjoy the game in your daily life;
- Fortnite Merchandise Toys a.k.a. Figurines. Most Fortnite players collect these detailed character figures as favorites;
- Posters and Art Prints. Perfect for personal spaces and different surfaces if these are stickers;
- 3D Lamps. Fans can choose from special lighting fixtures with Fortnite-inspired design styles;
Also, Epic Games teams up with famous brands to deliver special Fortnite merchandise products. For example, the company worked with Balenciaga to design limited versions of their clothing that combined Balenciaga’s fashion expertise with Fortnite’s video game art style. These special products draw both casual gamers and fashion enthusiasts.
Fortnite Merchandise and Brand Collaboration
- Juice WRLD Fortnite Merchandise
After Juice WRLD’s passing, Fortnite launched special items to recognize and preserve his musical impact. Fortnite contains the Juice WRLD data thanks to their customized visual content that matches how fans connect with the artist’s work.
Epic Games launched two main Juice WRLD skins through the Fortnite Chapter 2 Remix event in November 2024. When players logged into Fortnite from November 25 to 30, 2024, they could access the Slayer Juice WRLD skin free. After the end of a free period, the standard Juice WRLD outfit appeared in the Fortnite Item Shop at 1,800 V-Bucks. The bundle version of this item was listed for 2,600 V-Bucks.
Through this collaboration, the game celebrates both Juice WRLD’s life and his cultural impact on our world.
- Fortnite Marvel Merchandise
From its launch in 2018, Fortnite and Marvel joined forces to make new digital content and merchandise for their fans. This lineup includes:
- Character Skins. Players can use the digital versions of Marvel heroes Iron Man, Thor and Spider-Man as customizable character outfits;
- Apparel. You can buy Marvel-inspired tops, sweatshirts, and caps designed with Marvel artwork;
- Collectibles. Customers can buy action figures and purchase prints, stickers, or posters;
To celebrate the Marvel partnership Epic Games created the limited game mode – Fortnite Infinity Gauntlet where players could take on the Thanos role. New game updates were built around Marvel superheroes such as Chapter 2 Season 4 keep the partnership with Marvel for Fortnite merchandise exciting for all players.
- Balenciaga and Fortnite Merchandise
After entering the high-fashion market, Fortnite joined forces with Balenciaga to make actual and digital clothing sets. The Balenciaga Fortnite lineup includes baseball caps, printed shirts, special hoodies, and denim jackets that sell minimum for $ 395 and $1,290. Players get the chance to style their digital characters with the Balenciaga Fit Set from 300 to 1,500 virtual currency.
As Balenciaga’s creative director, Demna Gvasalia, combines fashion with video games, he uses Unreal Engine to release a collection through an augmented reality platform. They merged fashion and game customization in a smart lineup – an awesome experience that may inspire you.
- Eminem Fortnite Merchandise
Eminem teamed up with Fortnite when the game hosted its live performance of “Big Bang”. Following the concert, Eminem released a limited-edition merchandise capsule, including:
- Hoodies and T-shirts;
- Vinyl records;
- In-game character outfits that show his style as Rap Boy and Slim Shady;
The products honor Eminem’s personal style and his career based on some memorable things.
- Travis Scott Merchandise’s for Fortnite
In April 2020, Travis Scott brought “Astronomical” to Fortnite earning millions of fans in one day. The event generated its brand merchandise with clothes, vinyl records, and game equipment. Epic Games gained money because fans wanted these products and earned more revenue from skin bundles and package sales in the in-game store.
You can try looking for local brands and small businesses to collaborate with them for the promotion of your gaming project.
How Small Indie Game Teams Promote Their Games With Merchandise:
- Get to know your target audience, and communicate with your fans to understand what they like. Do online surveys and go for social media engagement;
- Begin with stickers and digital merch. These types and formats won’t cost you much. Fans can easily get them from offline and online events. It is important to reach your audience;
- You can make T-shirts and mugs through Redbubble and Teespring services while paying only the commission for the sold items. Let them print your merchandise designs after you finalize the design;
- Collaborate with local artists who need more cases in their portfolios to get awesome designs and artwork. Help each other to gain better social engagement and cross-promote your projects;
- Host events and giveaways within a limited time period to increase the value of your merchandise. Spread the word around social media;
- Cross-promote with other indie games. Support other independent game creators when you promote with them. Offer discounts or bundle merchandise deals. Your products will reach more people when you partner with other indie developers;
Is It Worth Hiring Professional Artists for Game Merchandise?
| Reason | Details |
| Better brand identity | Professional artists bring creativity with expertise and experience from similar projects. They can make truly unique designs with memorable concept |
| Top-notch quality | Skilled artists can produce very noticeable but age-appropriate merch. Their artwork can really attract people. |
| Understand game culture and fanart trends | Most artists are aware of the latest trends in fanart for a particular game and know how to boost their interest |
| Expand revenue streams | Professionally made merchandise can open additional income sources, and most artists are interested in getting their commission from each sale or having a popular brand mentioned in their portfolio |
Hire experienced and aspiring artists – many skilled and talented people deserve recognition through their artwork. Do not always use AI because only humans can create something truly unique.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there Fortnite merchandise for adults?
Absolutely! Fortnite offers a wide range of merchandise for adults, including clothing like T-shirts, hoodies, and jackets. Accessories such as phone cases, backpacks, and collectibles are also available for daily use in your adult life. Collaborations with brands like Balenciaga offer high-end fashion options for more dedicated fans.
Where to buy Fortnite merchandise?
First thing first, you can buy Fortnite merchandise on the official store’s website. Major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target also offer Fortnite merch products. Additionally, exclusive items from collaborations, such as those with Balenciaga, are available on the respective brand’s websites and select stores. Always ensure you purchase from authorized retailers to get genuine merchandise.
Which is the most popular Fortnite merchandise for kids?
The most popular Fortnite game merchandise for kids and teens includes action figures, plush toys, and backpacks. These items are designed to reflect beloved game characters and bring the Fortnite experience into school life. The official and brand clothing items like T-shirts and hoodies featuring popular skins and emotes are also fan favorites, allowing kids to express their enthusiasm for the game.
Conclusion
The BandurArt team enjoys writing about video games and wants to explore our video game industry more. Make sure to bookmark us and follow this blog to read more interesting facts and insights. We are also open to collaboration with talented teams who seek professional 2D/3D artists. Let’s create beautiful game-related content for players and developers together.
