⚡ TL;DR — Quick Read
- Grace Ashcroft from Resident Evil Requiem is joining Fortnite on February 28, 2026
- Free skin: Buy Resident Evil Requiem on the Epic Games Store and get Grace for free — must use the same Epic account linked to Fortnite
- Item Shop window: Available to purchase separately from 7 PM ET, Feb 28 – 6:59 PM ET, March 7
- Leon & Claire might not return alongside Grace due to outdated skin files
- Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 has been delayed to March 19, which may affect RE skin updates
- Source: Reliable Fortnite leaker HYPEX
With Resident Evil Requiem launching on February 27, 2026, Fortnite is wasting no time jumping on the hype. Respected leaker HYPEX has revealed a first look at the Grace Ashcroft Fortnite skin, and it’s dropping just one day after the game goes live. Here’s everything you need to know.
Who Is Grace Ashcroft?
Grace Ashcroft is the brand-new protagonist of Resident Evil Requiem and one of the franchise’s most anticipated new characters in years. She’s one of two playable characters in the game and makes her Fortnite debut rocking her signature brown leather jacket and slate hoodie — exactly as she appears in the game’s key art.
This is the latest in a long line of Resident Evil x Fortnite collaborations. Previous crossovers brought in Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine from the original RE, followed by Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield from Resident Evil 2 back in 2023. Grace is now joining that roster as the newest survival horror icon in the battle royale.
How to Get the Grace Ashcroft Skin for Free
This is the part most players care about. There are two ways to get Grace in Fortnite:
Option 1 — Free with Game Purchase: Buy Resident Evil Requiem on the Epic Games Store and you’ll automatically receive the Grace Ashcroft Fortnite skin at no extra cost. This applies to both pre-orders and post-launch purchases. One critical detail: your Epic Games Store account must be the same account linked to your Fortnite profile. If they’re different accounts, the skin won’t transfer over.
Option 2 — Item Shop Purchase: Not buying the game? No problem. Grace will be available to buy directly from the Fortnite Item Shop from 7:00 PM ET on February 28 through 6:59 PM ET on March 7, 2026. Pricing hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, but it’s expected to be in line with other licensed character skins.
One bonus detail worth knowing: if you buy Grace’s outfit in the Item Shop first and then later purchase Resident Evil Requiem on the Epic Games Store, Epic will grant you 1,500 V-Bucks instead of a duplicate skin. Neat.
What About Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield?
Here’s the slightly disappointing news for RE2 fans. HYPEX noted that Leon and Claire’s existing Fortnite skins are “currently still not updated,” meaning the duo might not return to the Item Shop at the same time as Grace’s debut. Their skins were last seen in the Fortnite shop back in April 2023 — nearly three years ago.
The silver lining? Fortnite’s Chapter 7 Season 2 update was delayed to March 19, which could open the door for Leon and Claire to be refreshed and re-released alongside Grace at a later date. There’s also the possibility all three characters get bundled together in a future RE-themed return. With Leon playing a major role in Resident Evil Requiem, fans are understandably hoping he gets some Fortnite love sooner rather than later.
Why Fortnite Keeps Doing These Collabs
Love them or not, these crossovers genuinely work. Fortnite has built one of gaming’s most eclectic rosters by pulling in characters from survival horror, K-Pop, South Park, and everything in between. Collaborations like this one give fans a reason to download or revisit Fortnite just to represent their favorite franchise — and it keeps the game culturally relevant year after year.
With Resident Evil as one of the biggest names in horror gaming, this one is a no-brainer for both Capcom and Epic.
Staying up to date on all things gaming? Check out our full breakdown of the Pokémon GO March 2026 Community Day featuring Scorbunny and everything happening with Pokémon Legends: Z-A including Home support and the Champions transfer update.
