8 Months Later, Fortnite’s Fan-Favorite Anime Crossover Returns

Epic Games is gearing up to expand its anime roster once again, teasing a brand-new Fortnite and Bleach crossover that brings fresh faces to the battle royale just eight months after the initial collaboration.

Back in December, the iconic anime made its dramatic debut in the game with a stellar lineup featuring Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia Kuchiki, Uryu Ishida, and Orihime Inoue. Fans could acquire them individually or snag the comprehensive Bleach Bundle, which packed all four fighters and their signature cosmetics for 4,000 V-Bucks. These fan-favorite items have made occasional reappearances in the rotating store, continually sparking community speculation about a potential second wave.

Those hopes are officially becoming a reality, courtesy of a partnership centered around Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. On August 4, the official German Fortnite YouTube channel shared a teaser spotlighting two heavily requested character skins—Yoruichi Shihōin and Kisuke Urahara—accompanied by the ominous and intriguing tagline: “Don’t blink. We’re expecting you.”

The suspenseful clip concludes by locking in an August 8 release date for the upcoming cosmetics. Due to regional time zone differences—specifically the 2:00 AM CEST reset for Germany—the update officially rolls over into Saturday there, while players in North Stateside regions can dive into the Item Shop to grab the new Bleach gear on August 7 at 8:00 PM ET.

While this drop is expected to focus purely on cosmetics rather than introducing dedicated gameplay mechanics or mythic weapons, there is a silver lining. Alongside the newcomers, the original wave of Bleach outfits is heavily anticipated to return to the shop, giving collectors who missed out three months ago another chance to complete their sets. Looking ahead, the community remains hopeful that Epic Games will eventually treat Bleach to an immersive, full-scale in-game event akin to previous massive anime crossovers with titles like Dragon Ball, My Hero Academia, and Attack on Titan.