This week, Fortnite enthusiasts experienced a moment of surprise as the game introduced a feature that had never been seen before: Homer Simpson’s nipples, a first in the battle royale’s history. Players will soon have access to a model showcasing a gargantuan Homer in his underpants, complete with visible nipples.
This development is particularly significant for longtime fans, as Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite, has maintained an unspoken guideline to avoid depicting nipples in the game, a policy first noted around 2019. During the popular Travis Scott concert event, players observed that the rapper’s in-game skin also sported a smooth chest, further cementing the nipple-less norm within the game.
Despite numerous characters, including icons such as Kratos from God of War, Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender, and superheroes like The Hulk, making shirtless appearances, all have adhered to this peculiar visual policy. IGN has reached out to Epic Games multiple times seeking comment on this aspect but has yet to receive an official response.
Interestingly, this nipple-free directive has extended even into Fortnite’s promotional materials. Earlier this year, Philips partnered with the game to launch Body Royale, a mode that showcased its OneBlade shaver. While real-life models in Philips’ marketing boasted prominent features, the in-game versions remained decidedly devoid of nipples, raising questions about whether such stipulations were enforced by Epic Games.
The upcoming inclusion of Homer Simpson’s nipples raises intriguing questions about the potential for change within the game’s guidelines. Could this be a singular exception due to The Simpsons’ branding? Or might it indicate a broader shift in Epic Games’ policies as the game prepares for its new Chapter Seven era, which includes high-profile collaborations such as those with Quentin Tarantino?
As fans speculate on the implications of this unexpected development, one thing is clear: the gaming community remains abuzz with curiosity about what may come next in Fortnite’s evolving landscape.