Fortnite Kernal Hearts drops a spark of mystery: new skins, a precise release window, and surprises that could tilt the battle royale scene.
With crossovers like the Fortnite Honkai Star Rail collab already being slated for release, Epic has revealed yet another gaming crossover with the Fortnite Kernel Hearts collab. Kernel Hearts is an upcoming co-op roguelike action RPG, and is one of the first indie titles included in Epic Games cross promotion program. Here is everything we know about the upcoming collaboration.
When Does the Fortnite Kernel Hearts Collab Release?
The Fortnite Kernel Hearts collaboration is set to release on February 14, 2026, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Players can expect themed skins, back blings, and emotes inspired by the partnership, arriving through the in-game Item Shop and limited-time events. Epic Games has also teased special challenges tied to the collab, offering exclusive rewards for completing event objectives before the promotion ends.
The Kernel Hearts skin in Fortnite will release in March 2026. While Epic Games has not provided an official release date for the crossover, the PC demo for Kernel Hearts is set for release on March 31, 2026. Since it is a part of Epic’s push for gaming collabs, players can expect to see the Kernel Hearts crossover sometime around the PC demo release.
Fortnite Kernel Hearts Collab Expected Skins and Prices
The Fortnite x Kernel Hearts collaboration is expected to feature character outfits inspired by popular heroes like Sora, Riku, Kairi, and possibly King Mickey. Each skin will likely include themed back blings, keyblade pickaxes, and special emotes tied to the series’ iconic moves. Prices are expected to range from 1,500 to 2,800 V-Bucks for individual skins, with bundles offering better value and exclusive loading screens or gliders for dedicated fans.
The core of the Kernel Hearts collab will be the M.A.H.O.U Unit, the primary protagonists from the upcoming roguelike RPG. This includes characters like Fang, a playable magic girl and a battle-hardened member of the M.A.H.O.U Unit who features a damaged character aesthetic. Additionally, players can also expect to see Mikolaj, a mysterious soldier and one of Kernel Hearts’ primary NPC allies, to make an appearance as part of the collab.
Since Kernel Hearts will feature 4-player co-op gameplay, it is likely that the other magical girls will also be part of the Kernel Hearts crossover, possibly in a bundle. Alongside these characters, players might also see Tofu, the loyal wolf companion from Kernel Hearts, who might be a big part of the game when it releases.
Apart from the skins, players can also expect other Kernel Hearts-themed cosmetics to be a part of the collab. This could include the 256KB chips as back blings, stylized magical swords from the game, and even a weapon wrap sporting Kernel Hearts’ signature aesthetic.
The Kernel Hearts skins are expected to release in the Fortnite Item Shop, with the skins being priced around 1,500 V-Bucks individually when they release. Players can expect all of the skins to be grouped together in a bundle with a discounted price.
Will the Fortnite Kernel Hearts Collab Feature Free Skins?
Yes, the Kernel Hearts collab likely features free Fortnite skins, since it is part of Epic Games’ cross-promotion program. Players will be able to claim certain free skins, like Fang, if they purchase Kernel Hearts through the Epic Games Store. While these are not definitively “free” skins, the promotion would allow players to gain benefits in Fortnite and Kernel Hearts through one purchase.
When will the Kernel Hearts collab drop in Fortnite season timeline
The Kernel Hearts collab is expected to land in Fortnite around March 31, 2026, timed with the Kernel Hearts PC demo release, but it does not have an exact in-game date from Epic yet.
Placement in the season timeline
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Current info only gives a late-March 2026 window, not a specific day in the season schedule (no “Chapter X Season Y, Week Z” style confirmation yet).
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Given that it is tied to the March 31 demo, you can reasonably expect it near the end of that season’s March content cycle, likely as an Item Shop drop and possibly limited-time quests around that date.
Until Epic publishes an official season roadmap or blog for the collab, anything more precise than “around March 31, 2026, late in the current season” is still an educated estimate based on the demo tie-in rather than a confirmed slot.
What Fortnite season will include the Kernel Hearts collab
Current info points to the Kernel Hearts collab arriving with the next Fortnite season that starts around late March 2026, lining up with the March 31 Kernel Hearts PC demo date. Leakers and promo posts describe it as launching “with next season” rather than mid-season, so you should expect it to be part of that new season’s initial content drop or early weeks, not Chapter 6 Season 1’s closing weeks.
