Fortnite's Star Wars season has just introduced one of its most anticipated skins yet, Darth Jar Jar, but with a twist that's left fans reeling. To unlock the ability to purchase this iconic Sith Lord, players must first grind an impressive 1.28 million XP. Even after reaching this milestone, the skin still costs 1500 V-Bucks, roughly $13.
While Fortnite has previously locked skins behind XP requirements, doing so with a skin as eagerly awaited as Darth Jar Jar during the brief Star Wars season has sparked significant controversy. With the season set to end on June 7, time is running out for players to amass the necessary XP, especially for those who have already completed their battle pass.
The community's reaction has been vocal, with many expressing frustration over the additional grind required to buy the skin. "I was so hyped for this skin and was fine with it being behind a paywall, after all, it is just another skin," one fan shared on Reddit. "But this whole locked behind an XP wall is ridiculous. You want me to earn the right to give you money? I immediately closed the game."
Adding to the discontent, Darth Jar Jar was released alongside a standard Jar Jar Binks skin, which does not require XP but still costs 1500 V-Bucks. For those wanting both skins along with their accessories, the total could reach up to 6,500 V-Bucks, translating to a hefty investment.
"Regular Jar Jar alone is 20 dollars," another fan pointed out. "If you want both, that's 52 entire dollars for something that ought to have just been 1 skin with 3 styles."
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However, some players have taken a more relaxed view, suggesting that the skin is purely cosmetic and optional. "It wasn't that hard to earn the XP; it took me around 8/9 hours," another player noted. "I had no plans on Saturday. I did it in 3 sittings, but all in one day. I played Rocket Racing and Ranked and did Alignment Challenges to farm as much XP as possible.
"Nothing is making anyone get every item in the Shop; you can just pick and choose, and the fact he was just 1500 V-Bucks when Deathstroke was 1,800 V-Bucks, I wasn't bothered at all by the price. I was pissed off at first, then I realized after a couple of hours that I had over 300,000 XP already."
As the Star Wars season progresses, the focus shifts to Mandalorian warriors, with a highly anticipated customizable Mandalorian skin set to be released in the game's Shop. The season will culminate in a live narrative event on June 7, rumored to involve the Death Star, which has loomed over the game's Island since the season began.
Amidst the excitement, Epic Games continues to navigate its ongoing feud with Apple, with Fortnite recently facing challenges in returning to the iPhone App Store in the US.
