The landscape of Fortnite collaborations might have looked entirely different if not for a marathon five-hour phone call between the Russo brothers (Avengers: Infinity War directors) and Epic Games' former Chief Creative Officer Donald Mustard. Initially resistant to introducing third-party characters, Mustard famously opposed adding Thanos to the battle royale—a stance that seems unthinkable today given Fortnite's roster of Star Wars, Dragon Ball Z, and even Family Guy crossovers.

According to Pete Wanat of AGBO (the Russo brothers' production company), the directors were determined to bring the Mad Titan into Fortnite. Their persistence paid off: after an extended discussion about storytelling potential and player engagement, Mustard greenlit the Avengers: Endgame event in 2019. This marked Fortnite's first major IP crossover—a decision that reshaped the game's future.

With Epic Games recently concluding its Star Wars-themed Galactic Battle season, leaks suggest The Simpsons could be next. Dataminers speculate about a miniature Springfield map, though likely smaller than the current island. Meanwhile, Fox Animation crossovers (King of the Hill, Bob's Burgers, and Family Guy) arrive on June 13—further proof of Fortnite's embrace of pop culture.

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The Russo brothers'influence extended beyond Thanos. Their call with Mustard (who later joined their company AGBO) set a precedent for gaming collaborations industry-wide. Today, Fortnite's ever-expanding universe includes:

• Iconic film/TV characters as skins
• Themed weapons and locations
• Live events like virtual concerts

As Fortnite continues to blur the lines between gaming and mainstream media, fans eagerly anticipate future crossovers. Whether it's Deadmau5 in Fortnite Festival or unexpected IP integrations, one thing's clear: that five-hour phone call in 2019 changed gaming history.