Fortnite’s latest Star Wars season has introduced one of its most talked-about skins yet — Darth Jar Jar — but not without sparking a wave of reactions from the community. This unique skin, inspired by the infamous fan theory that reimagines Jar Jar Binks as a Sith Lord, is now available in Fortnite’s Shop. However, unlocking it requires players to first earn 1.28 million XP before they can even purchase it for 1500 V-Bucks (approximately $13).
While Fortnite has occasionally locked skins behind XP requirements in the past, this approach is relatively rare in recent seasons and has surprised many players, especially given the anticipation surrounding this particular cosmetic release. With the Star Wars season set to conclude on June 7, time is quickly running out for players to complete the grind — particularly for those who have already finished their Battle Pass and are now facing an additional level-up challenge.
The decision has drawn criticism from some fans who feel the requirement is excessive. “I was so hyped for this skin and was fine with it being behind a pay wall — after all, it’s just another skin,” shared one player on Reddit. “But this whole ‘locked behind an XP wall’ thing is ridiculous. You want me to earn the right to give you money? I immediately closed the game.”
Another point of frustration stems from the simultaneous release of the standard Jar Jar Binks skin, which also costs 1500 V-Bucks but does not require any XP to unlock. When combined with the various accessories for both the Sith and Gungan versions of the skin, players could spend up to 6,500 V-Bucks — over $50 — to collect everything related to the Jar Jar Binks bundle. “Regular Jar Jar alone is $20,” one user commented. “If you want both, that’s $52 for something that should’ve just been one skin with three styles.”
Community Reactions and Counterpoints
Despite the backlash, some players have taken a more balanced view. “It wasn’t that hard to earn the XP — took me around 8–9 hours,” shared another fan. “I had no plans on Saturday, so I did it in three sessions, all in one day. I played Rocket Racing, Ranked matches, and Alignment Challenges to farm as much XP as possible.”
Others reminded the community that cosmetics are optional. “Nothing is forcing anyone to buy every item in the Shop,” one user noted. “You can simply pick and choose what you like. Plus, considering Deathstroke cost 1,800 V-Bucks and this one is only 1,500, I wasn’t bothered by the price.”
What’s Next in Fortnite’s Star Wars Season
This week, Fortnite’s Star Wars season shifts focus to Mandalorian warriors, with anticipation building around the upcoming release of a customizable Mandalorian skin in the Shop. The season will culminate in a live narrative event on June 7, which many believe will involve players storming the Death Star — the massive structure that has loomed over the map since the season began.
Meanwhile, Epic Games continues to face external challenges, including an ongoing legal battle with Apple that recently saw Fortnite blocked from returning to the iPhone App Store in the United States.
