After months of anticipation, the Clyde skin has finally made its debut in Fortnite — but instead of celebration, it’s the price tag that has players talking. The very first opportunity to obtain Clyde isn’t through the Item Shop or a standard V-Bucks bundle. Instead, the skin is locked behind the purchase of a $170 Backbone One Pro controller, instantly making it one of the most expensive cosmetic unlocks Fortnite has ever offered.
The Clyde skin was already one of the most requested cosmetics after being leaked earlier this year, and its sudden release should have been a major win for fans. But the method of unlocking it has sparked widespread debate. Purchasing the Backbone One Pro grants players a unique redeemable code. Once entered, the code unlocks a short in-game Quest, and completing it adds Clyde to the player’s Locker.
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Existing Backbone Pro owners aren’t left out — they can also redeem a code to receive Clyde, but the same rules apply. The code unlocks the Quest, and finishing it grants access to the skin. However, each code is redeemable only once, making it impossible to resell, trade, or convert into cash. That won’t stop people from trying to flip the codes online, but officially, the system is locked down.
While the Clyde skin may eventually appear in the Item Shop later, the initial release is restricted exclusively to this hardware promotion. That exclusivity — combined with the $170 entry price — has left many players frustrated. Fortnite’s crossover skins have always varied in cost, but tying a fan-requested cosmetic to a high-priced peripheral feels like a major shift from Epic’s usual approach.
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Community reaction has been swift and intense. Social media threads are filled with players questioning whether Epic is attempting to test a new tier of premium cosmetics aimed at collectors. Others pointed out that even if Clyde later becomes available in the shop, the early-access exclusivity still raises concerns about future pricing trends.
Despite the backlash, the Clyde skin itself has been praised for its clean design and polished animations. Those who already own the Backbone controller or were planning to buy one anyway have called the bonus a nice addition. But for most players, the $170 requirement remains a tough pill to swallow.
This isn’t the first time Fortnite has partnered with hardware companies to offer exclusive skins, but Clyde’s popularity amplifies the controversy. The combination of hype, scarcity, and price is shaping Clyde into one of the most talked-about cosmetic releases of the year — though not necessarily for the reasons fans expected.
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Whether Epic eventually offers Clyde through traditional means will determine how the community responds long-term. For now, the skin is available only through the Backbone Pro bundle, and players will have to decide whether early access is worth the steep cost.
