Arcane skins won't be returning to Fortnite anytime soon, if at all, says Riot Games co-founder Marc Merrill

Fans of Fortnite and the hit Netflix series Arcane have been crossing their fingers for the return of the Jinx and Vi skins. That hope took a hit recently when Marc Merrill, co-founder of Riot Games, shared some disappointing news.

Merrill broke the update to players directly with a post on X. He said the original collaboration with Epic Games back in 2021 was a one-time deal to celebrate Arcane Season 1’s launch. Since then, despite plenty of talks with Epic, they haven’t landed on the “right fit” to bring the skins back. For now, it looks like Jinx and Vi won’t be dropping into Fortnite anytime soon.

The skins first showed up in Fortnite in 2021, right as Arcane made its debut. Players loved seeing the wild-haired Jinx and tough-as-nails Vi in the game. It was a limited-time event, and those who snagged the skins have been flaunting them ever since. For everyone else, it’s been a long wait with no payoff.

This is pretty disappointing since Marc offered a glimmer of hope last year as well. As we reported, Fortnite leaker Shiina, claimed the co-founder initially said, “It’s on us (that they don’t return). We only did it for the original launch of Arcane,” suggesting no plans for a comeback. However, after fan backlash, the co-founder reportedly shifted gears during a livestream, stating, “I will talk to the team about Arcane skins in Fortnite, not sure what we can do if anything, but I will look into it.”

As expected, X and Reddit are buzzing with fans begging for another chance. One player, @NaveenSankarS, vented on X, saying, “Bro you’ve had so many chances to bring them back. I think you guys should just lock in and find a way.” Another user , @mrbafflol, said, “Can’t believe two this huge company really don’t give a SINGLE F**K about their players – WHO MADE THEM RICH.” So it’s clear that players are frustrated with the decision, especially considering the fact that so many of them have been vocal about this for a long time.

So, what’s this “right fit” Merrill’s talking about? He didn’t spill the details, but it could point to tricky stuff like money or licensing issues. Riot Games and Epic Games are both heavy hitters in gaming, and deals between them aren’t simple. Maybe the numbers just aren’t adding up for one side or the other.

Still, it’s not a total shutdown. Merrill hinted that if something shifts, they’ll let fans know “ASAP.” It’s a small glimmer of hope, but not much to bank on for now. Arcane’s massive success and loyal following only make this sting more. The show’s racked up praise and a hardcore fanbase, so the hunger for these skins isn’t going away.