Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers is making history as the first Major League Baseball (MLB) player to be featured in Epic Games’ popular title, Fortnite. The collaboration coincides with the MLB Tokyo Series opening game between the Dodgers and the Cubs, taking place on March 18 (JST). To commemorate this, a new Fortnite costume featuring Ohtani in his Dodgers No. 17 uniform will be released.

In an exclusive interview with ORICON NEWS, Ohtani shared his excitement about this special collaboration, discussed the development process behind his in-game costume, and revealed his lesser-known gaming habits.

Fortnite’s Expanding Ecosystem and Ohtani’s Excitement

Fortnite is more than just a battle royale game—it offers a vast ecosystem where players can enjoy diverse experiences, including LEGO Fortnite Odyssey, a survival craft game co-produced with LEGO, and various user-generated content. The game boasts over 500 million registered accounts worldwide and is available on multiple streaming platforms.

Even before the official announcement, speculation was buzzing across social media. When the collaboration was finally revealed, it generated a global reaction.

"I'm incredibly happy and honored. It’s amazing to be a part of this, and I hope many people get to enjoy playing with my character," Ohtani said enthusiastically. "I've been in many commercials before, but I never had a gaming collaboration opportunity. Fortnite is popular in both the U.S. and Japan, so I think this is a great chance for people—even those who aren’t into baseball—to learn about me."

Joining Legends: Ohtani Follows LeBron James and Lionel Messi

Ohtani joins an elite lineup of Fortnite collaborations, following NBA superstar LeBron James, soccer icon Lionel Messi, pop stars Lady Gaga and Billie Eilish, and anime franchises like Dragon Ball and Naruto.

As the first MLB player in the game, Ohtani expressed his gratitude.

"There are many star players in Major League Baseball, so I feel incredibly honored that they chose me. If this collaboration encourages more people to explore baseball, I’d be really happy," he said.

A teaser advertisement for Ohtani’s Fortnite skin appeared in a Tokyo train station a day before the official announcement on March 10, sparking immediate viral buzz. The next day, when the collaboration was formally unveiled, reactions poured in from teammates and friends.

"They were all excited, saying things like, 'I can't wait!' and 'This is an awesome collab!'" Ohtani shared.

Source : ORICON NEWS