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Eight-year-old’s Fortnite chicken skin idea becomes a reality

Community spirit led to the creation of a Tender Defender skin on the hit multiplayer game.
Community spirit led to the creation of a Tender Defender skin on the hit multiplayer game. Community spirit led to the creation of a Tender Defender skin on the hit multiplayer game.

An eight-year-old who designed a chicken skin for Fortnite has seen his work become a reality in the popular game.

The Chicken Trooper skin was devised by Connor in September and gained a lot of attention from Fortnite fans when his dad posted the idea on Reddit.

Concept artists took the design a step further with more detailed illustrations but the suggestion fell silent until earlier this month when Fortnite began teasing something chicken-related in a social media post, as well as chicken feathers and cooked chicken legs in the watch tower in Lonely Lodge.

Reddit user Etsyturtle2, one of the artists who progressed the design, revealed that Fortnite had been in touch, saying: “Oh, yeah. The skin is coming.”

By November 23, the new skin’s arrival was confirmed by developers Epic Games, including items such as the egg whisk axe and cracked egg backpack, although the name was changed to Tender Defender.

“We are so excited,” Connor’s dad wrote on Reddit last Friday.

“I surprised Connor with the skin (right before we had to leave to an event) and he and his brother loved it. Thanks to everyone on Reddit who made this possible. You made his day. He is sporting a permanent grin.

“You guys made me the coolest dad alive. I filmed his reaction and cant wait to share it with you all.”

Gamers can now get hold of the Tender Defender skin from the Item Shop for 1,500 V-Bucks, the in-game currency.