Fortnite’s Pokémon-inspired Sprites have pulled players back to the island in droves. As the hunt for these vibrant creatures continues, five new Sprites are set to join the game on June 25.

Sprite hunting sends player numbers soaring

On Saturday afternoon, more than 1.2 million players were active in Fortnite’s main battle royale modes. The reason? Two separate two-hour “Power Hour” events, where the spawn rates for rare Sprites were massively increased. Excluding this month’s big live story event, this is the highest battle royale player count Fortnite has seen since March.

The craze is so intense that some players have started selling rare Sprites on eBay. Epic Games responded, telling IGN that this is against their terms of service and that measures are being taken. The ultra-rare Gummy Zero Point Sprite at the center of the hunt has reportedly dropped to a chest rate as low as 0.006 percent. That tiny chance is enough to keep players glued to their screens for hours.

How Sprites actually work

Sprites are small companion creatures, each with its own passive ability. They get their own slot in your inventory, so you don’t have to give up a weapon or shield potion to carry them. You find them during a match, but if you want to keep them for future games, you’ll need to perform an extraction and safely bank them. This risk-reward mechanic is what makes the system so addictive.

The more you use your collected Sprites, the more you level up their powers through the Sprite Mastery system. Special types like Gummy and Galaxy come with different rarity levels. Sprites started as a minor side feature in Chapter 6, but by Chapter 7 Season 3, they’ve become the backbone of the season.

Gone Wild event and 5 new Sprites

Building on this momentum, Epic is launching the Gone Wild event. Running from June 25 to July 9 across PC, console and mobile, the event kicks off with “New Sprite Day” and five new Sprites entering the game. Here’s what each does and how you unlock them:

It’s no coincidence that Striker is tied to the Soccer Pitch POI being added the same day. Epic is tapping into the ongoing FIFA World Cup excitement by bringing a soccer field to the island. Expect heavy crowds at the pitch on launch day.

Which Sprite should you prioritize?

On day one, Grim Reaper and Striker are the top picks. Grim Reaper gives you free intel every time you take a hit, making it useful in every match, regardless of your playstyle. Striker turns your parkour moves into a passive combat bonus, so you get extra value for no extra effort.

Boss Sprite is a great survival option, but since its drop isn’t guaranteed, farming bosses just for it can get exhausting. Fishy shines in water-heavy areas, depending on the situation. Aura is the wild card: Epic hasn’t revealed the exact damage threshold or how Shock Rock will behave, so its real value will only become clear once the event is live and players can test it in the field.

What’s next?

Gone Wild isn’t a one-off drop. Every Thursday during the event, new Sprites will be added including special Gummy and Galaxy variants, and later in the season, fan-designed types. Just when you think your collection is complete, more are coming.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the new Sprites arrive?

The five new Sprites land with the June 25 update. After that, expect more every Thursday during the event.

How do I permanently keep Sprites I find?

To add a Sprite to your permanent collection, you need to extract and bank it safely during the match. If you die before extraction, you lose that Sprite.

What started as a minor mechanic has now become one of Fortnite’s hottest features. If you want to try the new five on June 25, be ready for the crowds at the Soccer Pitch!