HHN's Jack the Clown and HamiKuma Are Headed Into Fortnite as Fortnitemares 2026 Launches

This year Fortnite moved into Halloween Horror Nights. Now Halloween Horror Nights is moving into Fortnite.

Fortnitemares 2026, Fortnite's annual Halloween event, went live on Thursday, October 1. Epic Games' announcement lists the crossover Outfits and accessories coming to the game this month, and Universal's event is on it: "A Nightmare on Elm Street, Black Clover, Hollow Knight, 99 Nights in the Forest, Hazbin Hotel, The Purge, Obsession, Slender Man, Beetlejuice, Predator: Badlands, and Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights Outfits and accessories follow throughout October."

Jack the Clown and HamiKuma in a screenshot from the Fortnitemares 2026 trailer. Image: Epic Games, via Attractions Magazine

Which HHN characters?

Epic's post does not name the characters. Attractions Magazine does. After more than a week of speculation, it updated its story on launch day: "Update Oct. 1: The rumor is true! Jack the Clown and HamiKuma are both a part of Fortnitemares 2026." The update is illustrated with a screenshot from the Fortnitemares trailer that shows both characters.

Universal calls Jack HHN's "first original icon," and he is back at the center of this year's event as one of the two "Ringmasters of Terror" alongside his rival, Dr. Oddfellow, in the Infernal Carnival of Nightmares. Attractions Magazine notes he was introduced in 2000, and that James Keaton has played him since the character's earliest days.

Jack the Clown in the Infernal Carnival of Nightmares scare zone at Halloween Horror Nights 2026. Image: Universal Orlando Resort

HamiKuma is a newer face. According to Attractions Magazine, the half-bear, half-zombie mascot was created for Universal Studios Japan's Halloween Horror Nights in 2021, and also appears this season at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Horror Unleashed. In Orlando, Universal's opening night release billed his "creepy cute" meet-and-greet inside the Five & Dime at Universal Studios Florida as a "first time ever."

How the rumor started

According to Attractions Magazine, Fortnite teased the event on September 23 with the line "Nitemares really do come true" and an October 1 date. Keaton reposted it, and so did Michael Aiello, Universal's senior director of Entertainment Creative Development. Prominent Fortnite accounts picked up on the reposts, and the speculation grew from there, the magazine says.

When you can get them

Not yet. At launch, Epic said the Five Nights at Freddy's Outfits were "live in the Shop now," while the other crossovers, Halloween Horror Nights included, come later in the month. VICE reports that "The remaining crossovers will roll out throughout October," with no individual release dates announced. Epic has not said whether Jack and HamiKuma arrive as outfits, accessories or both, or how and at what price they will be released.

Freaky Fields, twice

The crossover is set to run both ways. At Universal Studios Florida, the FORTNITEMARES scare zone in the Central Park area drops guests into "Freaky Fields," complete with the Battle Bus. In the game, Epic's Fortnitemares announcement invites players to "Drop into Freaky Fields or the new Nightmare Neighborhood POI." Show director Ramon Paradoa told the Universal blog that Epic "were incredible partners; from the jump, they were so collaborative and open to ideas."

The FORTNITEMARES Bear in the FORTNITEMARES scare zone at Halloween Horror Nights 2026. Image: Universal Orlando Resort

Halloween Horror Nights runs on select nights at Universal Studios Florida through November 1. If you want Jack in your locker, keep an eye on Fortnite this month.

Sources

• Fortnite (Epic Games), The Corruption Spreads in Fortnitemares 2026
• Attractions Magazine, Jack the Clown arrives in Fortnite: HHN icon inside Fortnitemares 2026
• Attractions Magazine, Meet HamiKuma at Halloween Horror Nights 2026 at Universal Orlando
• VICE, Fortnitemares 2026 Revealed: All Collabs, Weapons, Map Changes and Sprites
• Universal Orlando Resort blog, Behind-the-Screams of the Scare Zones at Halloween Horror Nights 2026 at Universal Orlando Resort
• Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Orlando Resort Opens the Gates to Halloween Horror Nights 2026

Image credits: Epic Games via Attractions Magazine (trailer screenshot); Universal Orlando Resort (Jack the Clown and FORTNITEMARES scare zone photos).