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I got the biggest laugh this morning. The Fortnite social media account shared a teaser for the debut of the Tesla Cybertruck in-game, and it showed Fishstick driving it and pulling a bus, truck, and tank. I find it funny, given the fact that we’ve seen video proof of it not being able to do things other trucks can like climb Hollister Hills State Vehicle Recreation Area steps, its bulletproof windows crack, and lots of other noticeable failures tied to it. Raccoons are mistaking Cybertrucks for dumpsters. Humorous initial reaction aside, I don’t like it, and I think at least some of my reasons are valid.
First, I’m just generally not a fan of these types of real-world elements coming into games. I’m not a fan of this type of marketing approaches. (I hated the Mercedes-Benz car in Mario Kart too!) Of course, Epic already goes all-in on in-game advertising. We’ve seen them promote influencers, the NBA and NFL, movies, singers, Nerf toys, Nike shoes, Fender guitars, and other car companies like Lamborgini before. However, when it comes to the Tesla Cybertruck in Fortnite, it somehow seems especially egregious. Perhaps it is the fact that the teaser trailer for the truck involves such an extreme and glorifying portrayal, which is contradictory to some real-world footage we’ve seen, that repulses me and makes me even more against the crossover.
Another reason I’m not keen on the Fortnite Cybertruck crossover is because it might be paid content. Early leaks for it suggested it would be a skin someone would need to buy with V-Bucks in the Item Shop. And while this isn’t confirmed, if it this does end up being the case, I just don’t like it! When comes to something that is such a blatant in-game ad, it should at least be free content that we’re not paying companies for the right to use. (Like I didn’t care for that aforementioned Mario Kart Benz, but at least I didn’t need to pay to put a character into it.) With other companies, like say Ubisoft or Square Enix, we aren’t seeing them charge people for the honor of getting to see or use their in-game ads for things like Black Friday sales or KFC.
But the blatant advertising for Tesla aside, I also don’t like the Cybertruck Fortnite crossover because it just doesn’t look good. The Fortnite teaser itself doesn’t make it as obvious. The trailer only offers a brief glimpse of the new vehicle. However, the Rocket League teaser for the Cybertruck shows that it just doesn’t look good in-game. Especially since we know how detailed and incredible car models can look in Rocket League. The polygonal approach doesn’t fit in with other vehicles in the game. Many people referred to it in the reveal as the “hitbox car,” and I agree. And considering that too could be a paid product, it’s disheartening.
The only thing I feel like the Cybertruck Fortnite crossover would be good for is the memes. People are going to 100% take advantage of this as an opportunity to dunk on the truck and Musk. Frankly, I’ll be here for that element of it. I’m just disappointed that it might also mean some people potentially wasting money on a bad skin or Rocket League car for that to happen. Not to mention it, well, giving positive feedback of any kind to what I feel like is the ugliest and most unnecessary vehicle ever.
I think the Cybertruck is a bad car and don’t like it, but that’s only part of why I don’t like the upcoming Fortnite crossover involving it. It’s even more egregious in-game advertising coming to a game packed with it. It might end up being a thing people need to pay for the honor to use. Plus, it seems like it might end up looking as bad in-game as it does in real life.
Fortnite is available on the PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC, and mobile devices.
