The Weeknd has been tapped as the headliner for Fortnite’s new “music experience” – but you won’t exactly be able to catch him in person.
Announced with a trailer on Monday (December 4), Abel will be the featured performer on the new music-based experience within the game’s Chapter 5, Season 1 release. In addition to other new features, a new game mode will allow players to hit notes in tune with a song while watching an artist onscreen. Players will have the option of performing in a band with their friends or playing solo onstage.
AD LOADING...
According to Hypebeast, The Weeknd x Fortnite Festival will also feature a new microphone design, two new bass designs, three songs, a keytar design, “Boombox” Aura, a loading scree, and The Weeknd skin – which can be accessed through a paid Festival Pass.
Check out the trailer below. The new update arrives Saturday (December 9).
It’s been a major year for The Weeknd, whose After Hours Til Dawn Tour just became the highest-grossing tour by a Black artist in European history, beating out a record previously set by Beyoncé.
Over the course of 30 shows overseas, Abel raked in $158.1 million with over 1.6 million tickets sold. The France shows in Nice and Bordeaux, as well as one in Madrid, were completely sold out, with those for concerts alone banking The Weeknd about $16 million.
AD LOADING...
While performing in Bogotá, Colombia in October, the international music superstar worked alongside 35 local companies in an effort to stimulate the economy, which created some 1,500 jobs.
Back in July, the XO leader broke London Stadium’s highest attendance record during a two-night stint that drew in 160,000 fans total.
In a statement, Live Nation’s Touring President Omar Al-joulani told Variety that he was incredibly impressed with the record-shattering moment.
“It’s incredible to see the Weeknd hit this milestone less than halfway through his massive sold-out European run,” Omar Al-joulani said. “This historic moment in London shows the global fanbase he has cultivated over the years.”
Then, in August, The Weekend doubled back and shattered another record while performing at London’s Wembley Stadium.
AD LOADING...
According to Live Nation UK, the Grammy Award-winning artist “broke Wembley Stadium’s record for sales with their traditional concert set up with the stage at one end of the stadium with 87,000 tickets sold.”
The Starboy crooner isn’t done with the road just yet, as he’ll be heading down under to Australia later this month for a slew of dates before hitting nearby New Zealand to wrap up.
