Fortnite is finally giving Sidekicks a purpose with a new game mode
Sidekicks have been one of the most fun, if largely meaningless, additions to Fortnite. Officially launching in November 2025, this update gave gamers a chance to have a little partner in their Battle Royale.
They don’t do anything, but some players quite enjoy having SpongeBob, Groot, Bonesy, Pink Pony,
Ace the Bat-Hound, and others by their side.
Finally, though, there is going to be a reason to have sidekicks. Epic Games is introducing a brand-new game mode, which is very common for the developer, in Fortnite that centers entirely on sidekicks.
Fortnite adding sidekick game mode
Fortnite’s official X account shared a video on July 21 showcasing a new game mode. The caption read, “Small creatures. Big bonds. Epic battles! On July 23, dive into a new collection of creature-based games where Sidekicks take center stage.” The video showcased some real-life sidekicks, like a person’s pet dog, alongside Peels, Lil’ Lootie, and other Fortnite Sidekicks.
As of now, there’s very little information on what this game mode will actually entail. However, it’s important to remember that sidekicks are strictly cosmetics. That means they can’t be pay-to-win in any game mode.
Therefore, having certain sidekicks won’t be advantageous. The free ones given by Epic won’t be worthless in comparison to BDX Droid or Krypto.
Sidekicks may receive an update strictly for this game mode, though. As it stands, they can’t compete in combat, get loot, or take damage. That could change for this new game mode. We will know soon enough, as the mode is going live on July 23.
A
previously leaked video
suggested that players would be able to customize sidekicks. It’s unclear if that’s the full extent of the game mode or not. If so, it would be one of the most unusual game modes Epic has introduced so far.
This is familiar ground for Fortnite. While sidekicks aren’t terribly unpopular, several gamers don’t use or buy them. Epic Games recently introduced game modes that helped spur interest in certain cosmetics, like Rocket Racing or Festival Mode.
Otherwise, buying the instruments or car decals was pointless. Now, sidekicks will not be quite as meaningless.
Furthermore, there is plenty of content to look forward to for players, such as the teased
Fortnite x Obsession
collaboration.
Featured image credit: Epic Games
Zachary Roberts
About Zachary Roberts
Zachary Roberts is an avid gamer and writer that loves to merge those things. He’s been featured on VideoGamer, ComicBook, New Leaf, Esports.net, and Sportskeeda as well as the On SI network of Sports Illustrated and Sporting News.
View full profile
Read Also
Dota 2
BLAST SLAM VIII Finals predictions and preview
Michael Hassall
It’s been a long road, but after a strangely-formatted group stage, and a decidedly anticlimactic playoffs, we’re down to the final three teams in BLAST SLAM VIII. The finals are today (Oct. 11) and we’ll see the premier teams in Dota 2 clash. Perhaps disappointingly, we’re not seeing a new wave of top-teams at the pinnacle of Dota 2 competition, with the three final teams being the same trio we’ve ...
Esports Betting
NFL petitions U.S. Supreme Court for clarity on prediction markets
Michael Hassall
The heat is officially on for prediction market operators such as Kalshi and Polymarket as the NFL, one of the United States’ biggest sports leagues, is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on the classification of prediction markets. In a brief filed late on Thursday (Oct. 8), the National Football League (NFL) backed the state of New Jersey’s request for the U.S.’s highest legal entity to review whether ...
League of Legends
LoL Worlds Prize Pool: How Much Is the 2026 Winner Getting?
Hannan Mundia
The 2026 League of Legends World Championship is about to begin and it is one of the game’s most anticipated tournament of the year. With 19 of the best teams battling it out, fans may wonder how large the 2026 Worlds LoL prize pool is. Being one of the largest esports games, it makes sense that there are multiple League of Legends tournaments throughout the year. Even setting the three ...
Dota 2
Who will prevail?: BLAST SLAM VIII Playoffs preview, predictions, and more
Michael Hassall
After a week of intense Group Stage, Last Chance and Seeding stage matches, and a few days of rest, BLAST SLAM VIII returns tomorrow (Oct. 8) with the Playoffs. If we’re honest, there haven’t been too many surprises. We’d liked to have seen a BetBoom or Team Liquid make the cut, but ultimately these aren’t the teams of earlier in the year, and with new rosters comes new uncertainty. That's ...
Dota 2
Dota 2’s new Tidehunter Arcana is mind-blowing, but prepare to spend $200+ to get it
Michael Hassall
Night owls in North America and early risers in Europe woke up to a brand new Dota 2 Arcana, the first new release of Dota’s rarest and most-coveted cosmetics since 2024. The recipient? Tidehunter, whose Maw of the Megladon Arcana transforms the already selachian sea-dweller into a full-blown shark. But while Arcana’s have traditionally been part of big events in Dota 2, either the now-discontinued Battle Passes, or most recently, ...
Valorant
VCT Champions 2026 Playoffs round 1 predictions: best picks
Owen Harsono
Top-tier Valorant is coming back, as the first round of the VCT Champions 2026 playoffs is about to begin. If you’re looking to trade on these matches, let’s go over what the prediction markets think, as well as who I believe are going to take each series. Opening the playoffs is a match between two international Valorant winners. NRG are of course looking to defend their title after winning VCT ...
Esports Betting
LeBron James will earn more from prediction markets than basketball this year
Michael Hassall
Superstar basketball player Lebron James will earn more from prediction markets this year than from playing ball thanks to his mind-blowing 15 million dollar Polymarket sponsorship. The deal has highlighted both the contentious issue of prediction markets and sport (and the true market value of a 41-year-old player) as one of the NBA’s biggest stars now clearly has more cultural cache off the court than the value of a teammate ...
