It has been more than a year since Epic Games made Fortnite Battle Passes non-exclusive. For the first six years, each Battle Pass had exclusive items, and Epic has kept them in the vault ever since they expired. However, back in August 2024, the game developer made a drastic change, making seasonal items non-exclusive after a certain period.
By mid-2026, several old Battle Pass skins will likely return to Fortnite. In fact, four different seasonal passes will be eligible for return this year, which is great news if you missed out on them. You will soon be able to purchase skins and other cosmetics from the Item Shop, spending your V-Bucks instead of leveling up.
How to get old Battle Pass skins in Fortnite?
The first Battle Pass eligible for the return is Absolute Doom, from Chapter 5 – Season 4. This was the second Marvel season in Fortnite, and it had many iconic characters, such as Emma Frost, Doctor Doom, and Gwenpool. This pass expired in November 2024, which means that its items may come to the Item Shop as early as May 2026.
“At least 18 months after a Battle Pass expires, any type of item from the Battle Pass may be added in the Shop for purchase,” Epic clarified. Due to this, we expect many cosmetics to hit the in-game shop within a few months.
In addition to Marvel characters from the Absolute Doom Battle Pass, Fortnite may also bring back skins from Chapter 2 Remix, as well as from the first two seasons of Chapter 6. However, all of these skins must stay in the vault for at least 18 months, which means that Chapter 6 skins will be eligible for an Item Shop release in late 2026. Considering that Battle Pass has some of the rarest skins in Fortnite, this change will make many players happy.
Battle Pass still offers a fantastic deal, allowing you to claim all the rewards from it for only 1,000 V-Bucks. On top of this, you get early access to all the cosmetics, and you also get your V-Bucks back as you level up. Once the skins come to the Item Shop, they will likely cost 1,500 V-Bucks each, but will require no leveling. Furthermore, it’s important to note that Epic Games may not bring back every single skin from the eligible Battle Pass.
If you’re looking to get new cosmetics in the meantime, check out how to unlock free Fortnite skins and South Park cosmetics. You can also unlock free cosmetics from the Battle Pass, which you can easily level up with one of the best XP maps in Fortnite.
