Unlocking the Cosmos: Which Phone Do You Need to Get the Galaxy Skin in Fortnite?
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The Galaxy skin in Fortnite stands as a testament to the game’s early collaborations and the lengths players would go to for exclusive cosmetics. The original answer is straightforward, but its legacy is far more complex. To get the original Galaxy skin, you needed either the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 smartphone or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 tablet. These were the only devices eligible for the promotion when it was initially released.
The Galaxy Skin: A Brief History of Exclusivity
Back in 2018, before Fortnite dominated every screen imaginable, Epic Games partnered with Samsung to offer an exclusive skin that felt truly unique. This wasn’t a simple in-game purchase or a battle pass reward. It required a significant investment in specific Samsung hardware, instantly elevating the Galaxy skin to a symbol of dedication and, let’s be honest, a healthy bank account.
The exclusivity stemmed from Samsung wanting to showcase the power of their new devices, particularly the Note 9 and Tab S4, and their ability to handle Fortnite’s increasingly demanding graphics. Imagine the bragging rights of not only dominating the game but also flaunting a skin that shouted, “I own cutting-edge tech!” It was marketing genius, and players ate it up.
The Aftermath: Rarity and the Black Market
As with any limited-time, high-demand item, the Galaxy skin quickly became a status symbol. Players who missed out on the promotion were left scrambling, leading to a thriving black market. Stories circulated of skins being sold for exorbitant amounts, even reaching thousands of dollars on platforms like eBay. Of course, this was against Epic Games’ terms of service, and many accounts trading the skin illegally were banned.
While the Galaxy skin isn’t technically unobtainable today, given the age of the eligible devices, the promotion is long over. Finding a legitimate way to acquire the skin now would be akin to finding a needle in a haystack. So, while the direct answer to the question of which phone you needed is the Note 9 or Tab S4, the more accurate answer now is: none. The opportunity has passed.
Alternatives and Successors
Fortunately, Epic Games has continued to collaborate with Samsung, offering other exclusive skins over the years. For example, the iKONIK skin required the purchase of a Samsung Galaxy S10e, S10, or S10+. And the Glow skin was available on a wider range of devices, including the Galaxy Note10, Note10+, Note10+ 5G, Galaxy S10e, S10, S10+, S10 5G, and the Galaxy Note9. This gave more players a chance to snag exclusive cosmetics, though none have quite reached the legendary status of the original Galaxy skin.
However, these collaborations have since ended. As of today, the latest exclusive skin was the Fortnite Honor Guard Skin (or Wonder Skin in some regions). This skin was available for those who bought the Huawei Honor 20 series phone, making it incredibly rare to see in-game.
The Galaxy Skin and other promotional offerings are a great example of gaming and commercial collaborations, which you can learn more about from the Games Learning Society. Check out their work and insights at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Galaxy Skin: More Than Just a Cosmetic
Ultimately, the Galaxy skin represents more than just a cosmetic item in Fortnite. It’s a symbol of a specific era in the game’s history, a testament to the power of exclusivity, and a reminder of the lengths players will go to for bragging rights. While you may have missed your chance to own the original, the story of the Galaxy skin remains a fascinating chapter in Fortnite’s ever-evolving saga.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I still get the Galaxy Skin in Fortnite?
No, the promotional offer for the Galaxy Skin, which required the purchase of a Samsung Galaxy Note 9 or Galaxy Tab S4, has expired. There is no legitimate way to obtain the skin through official channels anymore.
2. What phones could you get the Glow skin on?
The Glow skin was available on the following Samsung devices: Galaxy Note10, Note10+, Note10+ 5G, Galaxy S10e, S10, S10+, S10 5G, and Galaxy Note9.
3. What Samsung phone did you need to get the iKONIK skin?
The iKONIK skin was a reward for purchasing a Samsung Galaxy S10e, S10, or S10 Plus. This promotion has also ended.
4. How much did the Galaxy Skin phone cost?
The Samsung Galaxy Note 9, required for the Galaxy Skin, cost US$1,299.99, and the Galaxy Tab S4 cost US$999.99 (as of November 2018).
5. Is the Galaxy skin rare in Fortnite?
Yes, the Galaxy skin is considered rare due to its limited availability through a specific Samsung device purchase and the fact that the promotion is long over.
6. Can you still get the S10 Fortnite skin (iKONIK)?
No, the iKONIK skin promotion ended in September 2019 and was replaced by a different exclusive skin.
7. Was there a female Galaxy skin?
While there isn’t an official skin called “Female Galaxy Skin,” there is the Galaxy Scout skin. It’s visually similar and available in the Item Shop, but is NOT related to the original Samsung promotion.
8. What is the rarest Fortnite skin overall?
The rarest Fortnite skin is subjective and changes over time. Some contenders include the Galaxy skin, the original Skull Trooper (particularly the purple variant), and other promotional or limited-time skins that were difficult to obtain. The Super Soldier skin is considered the rarest legendary skin.
9. Is selling my Fortnite account safe?
Selling your Fortnite account is generally not safe and violates Epic Games’ terms of service. It can lead to a permanent ban of the account.
10. How much was the Fortnite Galaxy skin worth on the black market?
The Galaxy skin was reportedly sold for as much as $7000 on the black market, though these sales were illegitimate and carried the risk of account bans.
11. Who was the iKONIK skin based on?
The iKONIK skin was based on Jung Chanwoo/Chan from the K-pop group iKON.
12. Can you buy an iKONIK skin code now?
While some third-party websites may offer iKONIK skin codes, purchasing these codes is risky and often violates Epic Games’ terms of service. It’s not a reliable way to acquire the skin.
13. Is the Glow Fortnite skin rare?
The Glow skin is less rare than the original Galaxy skin, as it was available on a wider range of Samsung devices. However, since the promotion has ended, it is still considered relatively uncommon.
14. What is the rarest legendary skin in Fortnite?
The Super Soldier skin is the rarest legendary skin currently, followed by the original Galaxy Skin.
15. What other promotional skins have there been in Fortnite?
Besides the Galaxy, iKONIK, and Glow skins, Fortnite has had several other promotional skins tied to specific devices or events. These include the Wonder skin (Huawei Honor 20 series). These skins are often highly sought after due to their limited availability.