The Fernet skin in Fortnite is now available for free as part of a new Kernel Hearts crossover. Epic Games is giving away the outfit as a gift-with-purchase tied to the upcoming action RPG Kernel Hearts, and players do not need to spend any V-Bucks to unlock it.
Here is what the promotion involves, how long it lasts, the exact steps to claim the Fernet skin, and an alternative way to buy it later from the Item Shop.
How to Get the Fernet Skin in Fortnite for Free
Players can get the Fernet skin in Fortnite for free by pre-purchasing or buying Kernel Hearts on the Epic Games Store. The offer went live on August 17, 2026, at 1:00 PM ET, and it will continue once Kernel Hearts fully releases on September 17, 2026.
Fernet is the captain of the M.A.H.O.U. Squad in Kernel Hearts, a roguelike action RPG from Argentinian studio Ephemera Games.
To claim the free skin:
- Open the Epic Games Store through the desktop app or website.
- Sign in using the same Epic Games account linked to your Fortnite progress.
- Search for Kernel Hearts in the store.
- Pre-purchase or buy the game for $19.99.
- Complete the checkout.
Once the purchase goes through, Epic Games automatically adds the Fernet Outfit to your Fortnite locker. No extra code or redemption step is needed.
The Fernet Outfit only lands in the Fortnite account tied to the same Epic Games account used for the Kernel Hearts purchase. Buying the game on a different Epic account sends the reward there instead, not to your main Fortnite account.
Players who already bought the Fernet Outfit separately from the Item Shop before purchasing Kernel Hearts will not receive a duplicate outfit. Instead, Epic Games grants a one-time bonus of 1,500 V-Bucks when the game purchase is completed.
Gifting also works within this promotion. If a player gifts Kernel Hearts to a friend through the Epic Games Store, the friend receives the Fernet Outfit instead of the gifter, provided the friend’s account is linked to Fortnite.
Buy the Fernet Skin in the Fortnite Item Shop
Players who do not want to buy Kernel Hearts can still get the skin later. Epic Games will add the Fernet Outfit to the Fortnite Item Shop on September 26, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET for 1,500 V-Bucks.
To buy it from the Item Shop:
- Open Fortnite and head to the Item Shop.
- Locate the Fernet Outfit listing.
- Select the Fernet Outfit.
- Confirm the purchase for 1,500 V-Bucks.
The outfit appears in the locker immediately after the purchase is confirmed.
