Summary

  • Fortnite reinstates unlockable Matte Black style for The Master Chief skin amid community backlash.
  • Epic Games reverses decision, allowing players to unlock Matte Black style.

Fortnite had previously announced that the Matte Black style for The Master Chief would no longer be unlockable, but now it has reversed its stance and is making it available once again. While Fortnite fans were eagerly looking forward to the return of The Master Chief skin, the removal of the style received widespread backlash from the community.

December is one of the most happening months for Fortnite fans. With events like the Winterfest being held in Fortnite, players get tons of new NPCs, quests, items, and more in the game. While so far the event this year has been widely acclaimed by the community, the return of certain skins hasn't gone down well. Amid that, Epic Games has given an update about the Master Chief skin.

fortnite winterfest fish stick
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In a new tweet, Fortnite reveals good news for players looking to get the Master Chief skin. The Master Chief skin debuted in Fortnite all the way back in 2020, and it instantly became a hit. While it last featured in the Item Shop back in 2022, fans were quite excited to see the return of the Master Chief skin in Fortnite in 2024. However, Epic Games revealed on December 23 that the Matte Black style for the skin would no longer be available, which wasn't the case earlier. Fortnite revealed back in 2020 that anyone could unlock the style at any point in time after purchasing the skin and simply playing the game on Xbox Series X/S. Now, it has reversed its decision once again, stating that players will still be able to get the Matte Black style whenever they want, as stated in the first announcement.

The Master Chief Skin Had a Controversial Return to Fortnite

Fans were previously not happy with Fortnite's announcement, with many stating this might land it hot water with the FTC. Coincidentally, the FTC recently issued refunds worth $72 million to Fortnite players due to the usage of "dark patterns" by Epic Games. Fans were particularly dissatisfied about the fact that the change affected players buying the skin right now as well as previous owners. That is, even if someone had bought the skin back in 2020, they wouldn't be able to unlock the style.

This is not the only skin that has been controversial in recent times. For instance, Epic Games recently brought back the Renegade Raider skin to the game. While some were quite excited about it, old Fortnite players were threatening to quit the game due to the move. Even right now, some Fortnite fans are demanding an OG style for players who bought the Master Chief skin at launch. While Epic Games surely fixed the Matte Black style situation, the addition of an OG style looks quite unlikely.

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Fortnite
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Survival
Battle Royale
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Action
Adventure
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Top Critic Avg: 84 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
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Released
September 26, 2017
ESRB
T for Teen - Diverse Content: Discretion Advised, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
Developer(s)
Epic Games
Publisher(s)
Epic Games
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Engine
Unreal Engine 5
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
Cross-Platform Play
All platforms (except iOS/Mac)
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Via Epic Account
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YES
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1-4 players (certain modes)
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Mighty