Fortnite Makes Another Big Change to Master Chief Skin

Summary

• Following community backlash, Fortnite has reinstated the unlockable Matte Black style for the Master Chief skin.
• Epic Games reversed its initial decision, allowing players to unlock the Matte Black style as intended.

Following an initial announcement that the Matte Black style for the Master Chief skin would be unavailable, Fortnite has reversed its decision and restored access for players. The removal of this style sparked significant negative reaction from the community.

December is a major month for Fortnite, featuring events like Winterfest, introducing new NPCs, quests, and items. While this year's event has been generally well-received, the return of certain skins, including the Master Chief, has proven controversial.

In a recent tweet, Fortnite announced that players can once again obtain the Matte Black style for the Master Chief skin. Originally released in 2020, the skin quickly gained popularity. Its return in 2024, following a previous appearance in the Item Shop in 2022, generated excitement. However, the December 23rd announcement removing the Matte Black style—a style previously advertised as unlockable via Xbox Series X/S gameplay—caused considerable upset. Fortnite has now corrected this, confirming the Matte Black style remains unlockable as originally stated.

The Master Chief Skin's Controversial Return to Fortnite

The initial announcement met with strong disapproval from fans, with some suggesting potential legal ramifications involving the FTC. This follows the FTC's recent $72 million refund to Fortnite players due to "dark patterns" used by Epic Games. The dissatisfaction stemmed from the change impacting both new and existing owners of the Master Chief skin; even those who purchased it in 2020 were initially prevented from unlocking the Matte Black style.

This isn't the only recent skin-related controversy. The return of the Renegade Raider skin, while exciting for some, prompted threats from veteran players to quit the game. Currently, some Fortnite fans are requesting an "OG" style for original Master Chief purchasers, a request that Epic Games seems unlikely to fulfill, despite resolving the Matte Black style issue.