Ralph Lauren & Epic Games Launch A Trailblazing Fortnite Partnership

NEW YORK — 31 October 2022

Ralph Lauren and Epic Games, the developer and publisher of the wildly famous online game Fortnite, have launched a ground-breaking collaboration between their two iconic brands.

The collaboration will launch a digital collection of clothes and accessories in the Fortnite Item Shop, as well as a physical capsule collection of items inspired by the digital-first collection. For the first time in Ralph Lauren's five-decade history, the Polo Pony, one of the most recognisable emblems, has been reinvented to celebrate the cooperation with Fortnite, a demonstration of the company's faith in the power of the metaverse.

The company's distinctive Polo Pony emblem gets redesigned for the first time in its 55-year existence.

In a first for Ralph Lauren, the collection was conceptualised as a digital-first capsule, with a game design style providing creative inspiration. The digital Outfits include Ralph Lauren's distinctive creativity and craftsmanship presented in high quality and extraordinarily rich detail, whilst the physical capsule collection brings the Outfits to life. Underscoring this interaction between digital and physical, the Boot will be available in the coming months as a reproduction of the digital form seen in Fortnite Outfits.

Ralph Lauren has always built dreams and created new universes, and now, our cooperation with Fortnite will provide a revolutionary experience to a new generation of gamers and customers.

Our relationship symbolises an entirely new direction for the Ralph Lauren brand, one that prioritises creating for the metaverse. Ralph Lauren's Chief Branding and Innovation Officer, David Lauren, said, "We are pleased to continue to lead digital exploration, based on our decades-long track record of pioneering innovation."

"Authentic self-expression is vital to the Fortnite player experience," says Epic Games President Adam Sussman. Ralph Lauren's legendary 'Polo' design heritage combined with the tremendous adaptability of Unreal Engine and the distinctive aesthetic of Fortnite results in an imaginative campaign and timeless designs that Fortnite gamers across the globe are certain to adore.

Ralph Lauren will conduct a series of events to truly engage the gaming community in honour of the debut, including a Twitch livestream launch event, and will be the first luxury brand to cohost a player tournament in Fortnite.

The partnership capitalises on Ralph Lauren's extensive history of digital innovation and storytelling. Ralph Lauren is pushing the boundaries of what it means to develop dynamic new worlds in both the physical and digital realms, beginning with the creation of one of the first brand e-commerce sites more than 25 years ago and continuing with the delivery of immersive virtual experiences using augmented reality and the launch of unique digital products.

Fortnite Polo Stadium CollectionThe Polo Stadium digital and physical collection takes influence from the brand's 1990s Polo Sport and Stadium collections, recreated for the metaverse. Beginning November 5, the digital collection will provide two Outfits with different looks and extra in-game cosmetics that can be purchased via the Fortnite Item Shop.

The physical garment capsule collection will also be available on RalphLauren.com on November 2. RalphLauren.com, The Ralph Lauren App, the Polo-67 App, select Ralph Lauren retail shops, and specialised retailers like Bodega, Citadium, Highsnobiety, BSTN, LVL Gaming hub, Beams, and CMG Central World will release an extra product drop on December 1.

Launch of Twitch Livestream in New York CityAs part of the campaign launch, Ralph Lauren will conduct an in-person kick-off event on Thursday, November 3 at 1:00 p.m. ET that will be exclusively webcast on Twitch. Viewers will be able to connect with prominent gamers, influencers, and celebrity talent across three hours of thrilling and entertaining live programming. The Twitch broadcast will be hosted by Kelly Link and Sypher PK and will include interviews, interactive games and challenges with streamers and esports personalities such as Sommerset, Alixxa, and Ta1yo, among others, as well as an exclusive musical performance by rapper Polo G.

The Polo Stadium Cup Player CompetitionOn November 4, Ralph Lauren will also become the first luxury brand to cohost a worldwide player tournament in Fortnite, dubbed "The Polo Stadium Cup." Tournament players will have the chance to win in-game incentives, including early access to Ralph Lauren outfits and accessories. This Zero Build competition will take place everywhere Fortnite is accessible.

ABOUT THE RALPH LAUREN COMPANY

Ralph Lauren Corporation is a worldwide leader in the design, marketing, and distribution of five categories of premium lifestyle products: clothes, footwear & accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. Ralph Lauren has endeavoured for over 50 years to inspire the dream of a better life through honesty and timeless elegance. Its reputation and image have been cultivated across a vast array of goods, brands, distribution methods, and worldwide markets. Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, and Chaps, among others, belong to one of the most recognisable families of consumer brands in the world. 

WHAT IS FORTNITE?

Fortnite, which has more than 400 million registered users globally, is a place where you can build your own adventures or team up in the legendary Battle Royale and action-packed Zero Build modes. Fortnite is an ever-evolving arena where culture thrives and gamers can create, observe, and play with their friends alongside a worldwide community. Fortnite is accessible on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, Android, PC, and game streaming platforms.