A well-known Fortnite leaker has stirred up excitement by unveiling a look at an unreleased handcuff cosmetic, sparking debate over whether it was ultimately scrapped during the development process. Fans of Fortnite are no strangers to the game’s history of rolling out eye-catching cosmetics, especially those inspired by collaborations with other franchises. However, it’s not unusual for some promising ideas to fall by the wayside.
Epic Games has launched Chapter 6, Season 2 of Fortnite, bringing a treasure trove of new content for players to sink their teeth into. This season reinvigorates the battle royale gameplay with fresh locations, innovative weapons, and unique mechanics like breaking into bank vaults with explosives. This thrilling new feature lets players secure high-powered weapons and even earn special currency for the black market. And as expected, the roster of vibrant new skins has been expanded once again.
On Twitter, the popular dataminer ShiinaBR shared an intriguing glimpse of six concepts for the handcuff cosmetic. While their future in the game remains uncertain—given there’s no current feature using handcuffs—it’s possible these ideas were shelved. The designs range from classic gold to fantastical high-tech versions. Fans quickly drew parallels to the whispers about Fortnite’s never-released weapon charms, which also seem to have been left behind. It’s fairly common for these early-stage concepts to linger in the game’s files only to be axed down the line.
Perhaps surprisingly, some cosmetic items land in the game with no prior leaks, like the recent addition of Moments. Nestled under the locker’s music category, this feature allows players to integrate tunes with their gameplay. They can now select tracks for their intro or celebration moments, choosing from original songs or licensed music as they dive off the Battle Bus or clinch a victory. Fans have embraced this new feature with enthusiasm.
However, not every new cosmetic hits the mark. This was the case with the footwear line, Kicks. While many loved the idea of customizing their characters with branded shoes, opinions quickly soured over price points. Some Nike and Adidas collaborations ran up to 1,000 V-Bucks—equivalent to $8.99—which some see as a hard sell when certain skins only cost 800 V-Bucks. Even so, many players are eagerly diving into Chapter 6, Season 2, ready for new adventures in Fortnite’s expansive world.
