Epic Games launched Fortnite's South Park: Born in Chaos event on January 9, marking the battle royale's first event mini-pass since Chapter 5 Season 3. The collaboration introduces five playable South Park characters and a completely free Born in Chaos Pass with 13 themed rewards, running through February 5 according to multiple gaming publications.
The Born in Chaos Pass requires no V-Bucks purchase, instead relying on CRED currency earned through Battle Royale quests. Players can unlock 13 South Park-themed cosmetics including the Backpack of CRED Back Bling, Terrance and Phillip Pickaxe, and Cheesy Poofs Rocketship Emote. Completing four quests in each wave grants Memberberries, with six needed for the final Imaginationland Airship Glider reward.
Stan, Kyle, Cartman, Kenny, and Butters mech suit skins arrived in the Item Shop alongside the free pass. Each skin costs 1,500 V-Bucks individually, with a five-skin bundle available for 4,000 V-Bucks. The Towelie sidekick also launched as a separate purchase at 1,500 V-Bucks.
Update 39.20 introduces three gameplay-altering mythic items rooted in South Park lore. The Stick of Truth provides one-time storm control, Cheesy Poofs work as dual-purpose healing/damage consumables, and Kenny's Respawn Token offers automatic reboot after elimination. These items represent a significant integration of South Park lore into Fortnite gameplay mechanics.
Cartmanland replaces Wonkeeland as a new point of interest on the island's northwest corner. The themed area features rideable attractions including Chaos Blast, Voyage to the Center of the Planet, and Pi Pi's Splash Town. Map changes also removed Winterfest snow-covered regions to accommodate the South Park takeover.
Epic Games introduced Quints, a five-player Battle Royale playlist on the Golden Coast. This marks the first new squad size addition since Trios launched five years ago. Fortnite lead developers suggest the mode could become permanent if player engagement proves successful during the event.
The Born in Chaos event follows Fortnite's pattern of major cartoon collaborations after The Simpsons-themed season. South Park's arrival comes as the animated series concludes its back-to-back 27th and 28th seasons, maintaining cultural relevance through gaming partnerships. Fortnite was the most played game on PlayStation and Xbox in the US in 2025, according to Circana engagement data.
Players can currently access only the first wave of six quest sets, limiting progress to the first two pass tiers. Additional quest waves unlock on January 14 at 9 AM ET, with the full event running through February 5 at 1 AM ET. The 20-day window gives players under a month to complete all South Park challenges and secure exclusive rewards.
For players seeking immediate access, Epic offers a 1,800 V-Bucks option to purchase the entire Born in Chaos Pass once all tiers unlock. Individual rewards also sell for 150 V-Bucks each, maintaining Fortnite's hybrid free/premium monetization approach. The event represents Epic's continued expansion of licensed content while preserving core free-to-play accessibility.
South Park: Born in Chaos demonstrates Fortnite's evolving live service strategy, blending free content rewards with premium cosmetic sales. The collaboration's scope - from character skins to gameplay mechanics and map changes - represents one of Fortnite's more extensive animated series integrations.
