How Many Skins Are in Fortnite in 2023?

According to the leading Fortnite cosmetics database FNBR.co, there are currently over 1,700 skins available across all Fortnite game modes as of March 2023. This massive number includes skins of all types and rarities from the Item Shop rotations, Battle Pass rewards dating back to Chapter 1 Season 1, and highly sought-after collaborations.

Breaking Down All the Sources of Fortnite Skins

Epic Games utilizes several distribution methods that collectively contribute to the absurd amount of skins in the game:

Item Shop:

• Over 800 skins have appeared in the Item Shop rotation
• The Daily and Featured sections offer new and returning skin sets
• Shop refreshes daily, so variety and options are always changing

Battle Pass:

• Almost 600 skins total from previous Chapter Battle Passes
• Each new Season adds around 100 skins across the Free and Premium reward tracks
• Past Seasons have focused on themes like spies, superheroes, and alternate dimensions

Collaborations & Crossovers:

• 300+ skins from high-profile franchises like Marvel, DC, Star Wars and more
• Epic partners with brands, athletes, artists and influencers for unique skins
• Some examples: Lebron James, Neymar Jr, Balenciaga, Naruto, Dragon Ball Z

According to gaming industry analyst group Newzoo, over 12 million users log into Fortnite daily. With so many players to please, Epic Games will surely continue pumping out exciting new skins at a staggering rate.

Just How Rare and Valuable are Certain Skins?

The wide skill spectrum of the Fortnite player base means some skins are much rarer than others. Limited availability, high cost, and necessity for skilled gameplay all increase a skin‘s prestige.

The Rarest of the Rare:

Renegade Raider and Aerial Assault Trooper stand at the peak of the Fortnite skin hierarchy as the oldest and rarest skins ever released. As Season 1 Battle Pass and shop skins respectively, owning either skin proves your OG Fortnite dedication and skill according to prominent Fortnite YouTuber Tabor Hill.

Most Popular and Well-Known:

While not as rare, skins like Midas, Spiderman, and Peely remain insanely popular due to their exciting designs and strong connections to past seasons and gameplay events. Midas especially stands above other Chapter 2 skins in terms of popularity and cost according to rankings by top Fortnite sites like Pro Game Guides.

Collab Skins – Fan Favorites but Impermanent

Marvel‘s Spiderman skin grew rapidly in popularity after the Chapter 3 Season 1 crossover according to analytics from SkinTrackerCom. However, as licensing deals expire, these skins disappear from the Item Shop, boosting their value from scarcity.

Epic Games likely uses skin popularity data like this when strategizing future content and collabs. For us collectors, keeping tabs on trends can predict which skins might gain rarity during events like the upcoming Chapter 4 launch.

What‘s the Investment Required for Collecting Skins?

All these great skins don‘t come free unfortunately. Prices vary based on a skin‘s rarity tier:

*Note: 1,000 V-Bucks equals $10 USD

As expected, Legendary skins like collab items and tier 100 Battle Pass characters require the most V-Buck investment. However, daily login rewards and Battle Pass progression can earn you V-Bucks to offset costs.

For collectors aiming to own every skin, be warned that completing a set exceeds a jaw-dropping $24,000 dollars according to calculations by prominent Fortnite YouTuber GKI. While impossible for most, the game‘s free-to-play model still allows all players to steadily build an impressive locker collection over time.

Scoring Free Skins – The Holy Grail

Obtaining free skins allows bypassing the steep V-Bucks paywall. So dedicated players watch eagerly for opportunities during events and promotions.

Methods for Free Skins

• Special events – Season launch events, in-game concerts, etc.
• Tournaments – Compete for skins as top prize rewards
• Referral bonuses – Referring friends to download Fortnite
• Bug fixes – Compensation for server issues and downtime
• Newsletters – Rewards for account email signups

Past Free Skin Examples

Epic Games previously rewarded the entire player base with skins during major events and partnerships:

• NFL – Multiple team uniform skins – 2022
• Star Wars Day – Stormtrooper skin – 2022
• MLK Event – Black Lives Matter skin – 2021

For those hoping to score elusive free skins in 2023, make sure to grind those Season launch events and bug fix rewards when the opportunity strikes.

Closing Thoughts on Fortnite Skins

With over 100 million global players in 2022 according to Epic Games, expect the total skin count to continue rocketing upwards through new collaborations, seasons and pop culture events.

For new players starting today, focus on growing your collection through Battle Passes and daily shop deals. And hopefully Chapter 4 brings even more exciting and rare skins for veterans and newcomers alike!

Let me know any other Fortnite skin questions in the comments!