ARIANA Grande fans are gushing over the star’s interactive Fortnite tour, calling it “the most impressive yet”.
The music mega-star is performing a string of concerts on the popular gaming platform, with her last one set for tonight, August 8.
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The pop icon is playing five in-game shows over three days as part of her “Fortnite Rift Tour” and is expected to more than $20million.
The first event took place on August 6, followed by another on August 7 and the final on Sunday, August 8.
The shindig is being dubbed one of the most impressive performances on a gaming network yet.
During the concert, players can’t hurt each other and instead have the option of taking part in various segments that each have their own songs, according to Kotaku.
As part of the fun, players slide along a tube of colourful goo and are later strapped into planes and given the chance to shoot at a large enemy.
In other concerts, players run around a strange maze of Escher-esque stairs or fly through clouds on magical llamas that leave behind rainbow trails.
At one point, Grande’s avatar walks up large white stairs towards a bright white light and begins singing “The Way”, which features Mac Miller who tragically passed away in 2018 and whom the pop icon had started dating two years earlier.
“While this isn’t the first virtual concert to happen in Fortnite, it’s easily the best and most impressive yet,” one tech writer says.
They say the concert is “genuinely neat and legitimately cool” and will appeal to all gamers, not just Grande’s most avid supporters.
HOW TO WATCH IT LIVE
There are five different showings, and you can schedule when you want to attend with pals.
Epic Games, which created the game, says it’s best to arrive in Fortnite around 60 minutes before the showtime.
And the Rift Tour playlist should appear around 30 minutes before each show.
These are the event times:
- Show 1 – Friday, August 6 – 6pm NYC / 11pm London
- Show 2 – Saturday, August 7 – 2pm NYC / 7pm London
- Show 3 – Sunday, August 8 – 12am ET / 5am London
- Show 4 – Sunday, August 8 – 10am NYC / 3pm London
- Show 5 – Sunday, August 8 – 6pm NYC / 11pm London
As part of the event, there’s a new Grande outfit and Piggy Smallz Back Bling.
Travis Scott previously performed a virtual tour, and Diplo hosted a live Major Lazer concert.
Other artists who have released or shown off content in Fortnite include BTS, J Balvin, Steve Aoki, Dillon Francis and Deadmau5.
RECORD PAY DAY
Grande could be set to rake in more than $20million with this virtual showcase.
Epic Games doesn’t disclose the exact details of its deals with stars who participate in their events.
But according to Forbes, Grande is set for a massive payday thanks to the Fortnite collaboration.
Estimates put a previous event by Scott as earning him $20million in merchandise sales.
As Grande is an even bigger artist – with more fans and higher album sales – you would expect a bigger turnaround.
It’s likely she’s receiving some kind of cash payout from Epic Games.
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Other big-name franchise tie-ups include wildly popular anime Naruta, and DC’s Justice League and Suicide Squad.
Of course, Epic Games hasn’t formally confirmed that any of these events are taking place.
But the company regularly hosts Fortnite events, so it’s likely there are big plans in the making.
