Phil Roberts 
A new Predator is ready to hunt in Battle Royale. The Fortnite x Predator Badlands collaboration is here, bringing Dek and Thia to the map!
At long last, a brand-new Fortnite x Predator collaboration is on the hunt! Several years after the iconic Predator first arrived in Fortnite as a special unlockable character, frustratingly locked behind a Battle Pass, fans have been starved of new Predator characters. But fear not, hunters, because that’s finally about to change! Epic Games and 20th Century Studios have officially unveiled Dek, the fearsome young Yautja from Predator: Badlands, and he’s dropping into the Item Shop tonight with a treasure trove of Predator-themed cosmetics. Let the hunt begin!
In Predator: Badlands, Dek crash-lands on the hostile planet of Genna with one mission: hunt the seemingly unkillable Kalisk. Along the way, he crosses paths with Elle Fanning’s Thia, a Weyland-Yutani synthetic from the wider Alien universe. Unfortunately, her encounter with the Kalisk leaves her brutally dismembered and split in two, forcing Dek to carry her legless body on his back. And thanks to a stroke of genius from Epic Games, Thia is joining the Fortnite fray as Dek’s Back Bling! Talk about carrying some baggage!
DEK OF THE YAUTJA
Ordinarily, Thia alone would be enough to make this bundle an instant classic. But Dek isn’t coming to the island empty-handed! This young Yautja is arriving locked and loaded with an arsenal of Predator-themed goodies. His alternate style lets players switch to his masked look, while his iconic Plasma Sword from Predator: Badlands is ready to slice and dice as a fearsome Pickaxe.
And that’s not all! Rounding out the collection is a brand-new emote inspired by the opening moments of the movie, in which Dek battles a forest of deadly, killer vines. Once the last vine has been destroyed, our young hunter unleashes a furious Yautja roar of defiance. Now that’s how you make an entrance! But don’t just take my word for it, hunters! Scroll down and check out the Fortnite x Predator: Badlands bundle below.
REVIEW
We had a blast with the film when we saw it at a very early screening. Although it didn’t hold a candle to the classic Predator movies, it had more than enough to make us fall in love with Dek. In my review, I said, “Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator Badlands is an epic spectacle that takes us on a deep dive into Yautja mythology. It’s more sci-fi epic than a traditional Predator film, and takes some big swings that don’t always land, especially with its protagonist. But with a glowing performance from Elle Fanning, some epic production value, and its exploration of Yautja mythology, the film is a home run for the director. Despite its bold approach, however, legacy fans may be left disappointed with this outing.
Unlike its predecessors, the film doesn’t feature Alan Silvestri’s iconic theme, which was a deal-breaker for me. And finally, the lighter-hearted approach feels more attuned to The Mandalorian than the Predator universe, which ultimately takes something away from the character. So, if you’re hoping for the brutal alien hunter from the franchise’s originators, look away now —this isn’t your film! In the end, the film delivers everything a massive sci-fi spectacle should. It’s bold, action-packed, and full of fun, but sadly, a lot of it feels out of place in this franchise.” Read my full review here.
RELEASE
I think it’s safe to say that Dek looks absolutely sensational, and I’ll be adding him to my locker the moment he hits the Item Shop! Thankfully, we won’t have to wait much longer, either. Dek has been confirmed to arrive tonight, so it’s time for the hunt to begin just as Fortnitemares enters its twilight. What a way to wrap up the spooky season!
Hopefully, Dek’s arrival will open the door for even more Predator characters to stalk the island. After all, there are plenty of legendary Yautja left in the universe! A battle-damaged classic Predator, the City Hunter, the Berserker, the Feral Predator, Wolf, Scar, the Shaman, the Boar, and even the Elder would all make fantastic additions to the game.
And let’s not forget the humans who’ve managed to survive a close encounter with these intergalactic hunters! Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch, Adrien Brody’s Royce, Amber Midthunder’s Naru, and Danny Glover’s Harrigan would all be welcome additions to the locker. So, here’s hoping Dek is just the beginning of a treasure trove of Predator characters heading to Battle Royale. After all, if it bleeds, we can kill it… in Battle Royale!
The Fortnite x Predator: Badlands collaboration arrives in the Item Shop tonight! Sadly, we still don’t know how much this bundle will cost, so check later for the full breakdown.
Will you be adding Dek and Thia to your collection? And which other Predators or human hunters would you love to see arrive in Fortnite? Let us know in the comments below!
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
