From Star Wars to Spider-Man, Ariana Grande to KPop Demon Hunters, Fortnite has never been short of seismic collaborations. And with each new update, the game manages to bring tonnes of new content to keep players well fed each and every day.
But their recent team-up with the longest-running American sitcom, The Simpsons, has defied every expectation, going viral across social media, promotional shorts hitting the top spot on the Disney+ platform, and luring retired battle royale veterans back into the game in their millions.
Take it from me, this latest update is a true sensation, capturing the hilarious nostalgia of 37 seasons into one simple but utterly addictive game mode.
So dust off the controllers, hop on board Otto's school bus, and take a deep dive into Springfield like you never thought possible. The Simpsons’ mini-season is proof (to the irritation of parents the world over) that Fortnite is not going anywhere.
The Simpsons Fortnite mode feels like your own personal animated episode
The silliness of Fortnite Battleground is indisputable. As a battle royale, each session you join is fast-paced, zany, and absolutely chaotic. Sometimes, the game is over quicker than it began, as you drop down at the wrong location, and a hail of bullets pops you from all directions.
And before you know it, you’re back on the lobby screen, ready to rinse and repeat. Dropping at remote locations on the map doesn’t guarantee peace either. Eventually, you’ll bump guns with another weary traveller, and lightning-speed combat soon commences.
All the while, the game’s map slowly gets smaller, forcing players into direct contact with each other until only one person or one squad is left. The battle royale mode has been a winning formula since the game's release in 2017. However, for many gamers like myself, the format was growing pretty stale.
That is, until the Simpsons season, which has somehow breathed new life, delight and silliness into the game.
The Simpsons Fortnite opens with a tribute to the iconic Simpsons' TV intro. And as soon as I see those signature clouds on screen, hear that iconic theme song play in the background, and parachute off Otto’s flying school bus, I have a permanent grin on my face.
The intro IS pretty sick! Tag your squad in the comments to jump in this weekend and don't forget to login before Nov 10 at 9AM ET to grab the Fuel Rod and Tongs Pickaxe ⛏️ pic.twitter.com/WkLIVEFJHm
— Fortnite (@Fortnite) November 7, 2025
The Springfield map is condensed and smaller than you expect, and only 80 players drop into each game, down from 100. It promises wall-to-wall nostalgia no matter where you free-fall to. With iconic locations like Moe’s Tavern, the Nuclear Power Plant, the Kwik-E-Mart, and the Simpsons' living room couch, you’ll be spoiled for choice as to where to explore first.
There is really nothing that Fortnite can't do.
Games still hold on to the basic format of Fortnite: shoot or be shot at. And players can still defy the laws of physics in several ways; just as you’re about to finish them off, they take a seismic jump away, or use nonsensical weapons to turn the tide at the last second.
But there’s something undeniable about how a little Springfield-fueled magic changes the tone of proceedings.
In several matches, I found myself in chaotic shootouts throughout Mr Burns' mansion, cycling through room after room, hunting and being hunted. Fights spilt out onto the garden lawns, where giant doughnuts then began to fall from the sky to crush unsuspecting players.
Other times, when I felt my bravest, I’d venture near the Simpsons’ home, a popular destination that pretty much guarantees instant conflict. As Marge Simpson busies herself around the kitchen, there’s all-out war happening in her living room, as players battle for a chance to sit on the couch.
The cartoonish environments make every mistake hilarious. And no matter how long or short a game feels, the sting of defeat is short-lived; you'll be keen to dive back in straight away.
Dotted throughout the map are several cameos, many of whom will shoot at you mercilessly (and with precision) if you step into range. Or, if you attack them, even by mistake, they’ll have no problem in dispatching you. Recent stats published by Fortnite have confirmed that neighbourly Ned Flanders has single-handedly eliminated over 33,000 players, and counting. I should know; I am part of that number.
Couple that with optional Simpsons-themed quests, signature weapons (like Moe’s deodorant applicator), and a near-unlimited supply of Easter eggs built into the level designs, and you really do have a digital timeline of the last 37 (!) seasons of the show, like you’ve never seen before.
That said, a part of me is begging for a non-combat mode so that players can give the map proper attention. It can be hard to inspect every single building, be forensic in your investigation, and take in the majesty of Springfield, when there’s a constant threat of being caught, zapped, crushed and totalled by your peers.
Fortnite is a melting pot of the best entertainment
Whether it's a film or a TV show, an actor or musician, Fortnite has become the epicentre of 21st century pop culture entertainment. Through this platform, virtually every franchise and brand can and will interact with each other in a way only video games can provide.
Where else would you see Sabrina Carpenter, Lara Croft, Eminem and Darth Vader share a screen? Hear the latest Lady Gaga song as the cast of Scooby-Doo duke it out with Batman? Or watch a live concert by your favourite musician, dressed as Family Guy's Peter Griffin?
To celebrate and promote the Fortnite Simpsons update, animated shorts were launched on the Disney+ platform, which quickly rose to the #1 spots. The collaboration is proof that, with the right ideas, visuals, and attention to detail, the creative synergy between TV and gaming (and vice versa) can pay off in spades. Both mediums can co-exist and reinvent each other for the modern age.
The Simpsons 🤝 Fortnite. Stream new shorts weekly on Disney+ and experience the Simpsons season in Fortnite. pic.twitter.com/aL8T0yPspk
— Disney+ (@DisneyPlus) November 1, 2025
Whether you like it or not, we will be talking about Fortnite, and all that’s going on in it, for the next year, 5 years, 10 years, and more. Your favourite entertainment can and will become a part of its digital footprint. Plans for new shows, films and music that have yet to be released will no doubt also hope for some sort of exposure on the platform.
There is really nothing that Fortnite can’t do.
One of the world’s most popular games teamed up with a legacy show, and the results speak for themselves. And just when I thought I had retired from all things Battle Royale, Homer, Marge and all the crew have me hooked again.
D’oh – enjoy The Simpsons Fortnite while you can
Here comes the bad news. For some unthinkable reason, The Simpsons collaboration is sadly only a mini-season event. Mini-seasons are designed to tide the game over between larger season update cycles.
My earnest hope is that due to the monumental success of the update and the millions of players returning to the platform, Epic Games and Disney will see sense and extend the mode, or find some way to make it a permanent mode.
But as it stands, the digital Springfield will come to an end on the 29th of November. My advice? Dive in now and savour the magic while you can. This is one of 2025's big gaming moments.
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