The “Birthstone Backplate” is a cosmetic item within the popular online game Fortnite, designed as a back bling. While not a naturally occurring gemstone in the traditional sense, its name directly references birthstones, and it has accumulated a significant number of style variations within the game. This article will detail the available information regarding the Birthstone Backplate, its variations, how to acquire them, and its place within the Fortnite universe, based solely on the provided sources.
Origins and Acquisition
The Birthstone Backplate first appeared as a reward within Fortnite through various in-game challenges and events. Specifically, it was obtainable through the Downtown Drop challenges, Zone Wars challenges, Creative Curse Challenges, Love & War Challenges, FNCS: Chapter 2: Season 2 Twitch Drops, The Spy Within Quests, and High Octane Quests. These challenges required players to complete specific tasks within the game, ranging from completing quests to performing actions within designated game modes.
The Backplate’s availability has been tied to specific dates, with challenges unlocking on dates such as May 22nd, 2019, September 27th, 2019, and February 14th, 2020. The High Octane Quests, offering rewards for completing tasks involving bouncing, flipping, and shooting, were available on November 15th and 17th, 2022. The item’s inclusion in these events demonstrates its role as a desirable cosmetic reward for dedicated players.
Style Variations: A Spectrum of Designs
The most notable feature of the Birthstone Backplate is the extensive number of style variations available. It currently holds the record for the back bling with the most styles in the game, surpassed only by the Back Board back bling. These styles are unlocked by completing specific challenges or participating in limited-time events. The available styles include:
- Sweaty: Unlocked by completing all Downtown Drop Challenges.
- Banana: Unlocked by finding Jonesy near the basketball court, rooftops, and a truck (Downtown Drop Challenges).
- Cuddle: Unlocked by searching for O-N-F-I-R-E letters (Downtown Drop Challenges).
- Disco: Unlocked by dancing or emoting at the basketball court (Downtown Drop Challenges).
- Drift: Unlocked by finding two hidden shortcuts (Downtown Drop Challenges).
- Fishstick: Unlocked by jumping through all six flaming hoops (Downtown Drop Challenges).
- Food: Unlocked by spraying an ice cream truck (Downtown Drop Challenges).
- Kevin: Unlocked by completing trickjumps on the crane, elevated train, or fence (Downtown Drop Challenges).
- Zombie: Unlocked through unspecified means.
- Mastermind: Unlocked through unspecified means.
- Phantom: Unlocked through unspecified means.
- Nosh: Unlocked through unspecified means.
- Halloween: Unlocked through unspecified means.
- Metal Masq: Unlocked through unspecified means.
- Love: Unlocked through unspecified means.
- Henchman: Unlocked through unspecified means.
- The Spy Within: Originally named Hidden Role, unlocked through The Spy Within Quests.
- Brite Boarder: Unlocked through unspecified means.
- Cuddle Kickflip: Unlocked by completing four Play Your Way Quests.
- Goofy Fin: Unlocked by completing seven Play Your Way Quests.
- Llamasploded: Unlocked by completing ten Play Your Way Quests.
- Aerial Assist: Unlocked by completing two Octane Quests.
- Battle-car Blaze: Unlocked by completing four Octane Quests.
- 'Brella Beach: Unlocked by completing six Octane Quests.
- Fifty-Fifty: Unlocked by completing eight Octane Quests.
The sheer variety of styles demonstrates a deliberate effort by the game developers to provide players with extensive customization options.
Comparison to Other Fortnite Cosmetics
The Birthstone Backplate is notable for its high number of style variations, rivaled only by the Back Board back bling. Other cosmetic items mentioned in the provided sources include the Glacial Backplate (a reskin of the Birthstone Backplate), and a variety of other back blings, pickaxes, gliders, wraps, and emotes. The sources also list numerous reskinned cosmetics, indicating a common practice within Fortnite of altering existing designs to create new, collectible items.
The sources detail a wide range of cosmetic items available through various packs and bundles, such as the Inkville Gang Pack, Darkfire Bundle, and Scoops & Slices Bundles. These bundles often contain multiple cosmetic items, encouraging players to purchase them for a complete aesthetic.
The Fortnite Ecosystem and Cosmetic Items
The provided sources highlight the broader context of Fortnite as a free-to-play game with a thriving in-game economy centered around cosmetic items. The game is described as one of the most downloaded free-to-play games on PlayStation. The Item Shop is regularly updated with new items and bundles, creating a constant stream of content for players to acquire.
The sources also mention collaborations with other franchises, such as My Hero Academia and J Balvin, resulting in themed cosmetic items. This demonstrates Fortnite’s strategy of leveraging popular culture to attract and engage players. The game utilizes limited-time events and challenges to drive player engagement and encourage the purchase of cosmetic items.
Conclusion
The Birthstone Backplate, while a digital cosmetic item within Fortnite, derives its name from the concept of birthstones. It stands out due to its extensive collection of style variations, unlocked through participation in various in-game challenges and events. The item’s availability and customization options reflect Fortnite’s broader strategy of providing a dynamic and engaging experience centered around cosmetic customization and limited-time content. The sources demonstrate the game’s popularity, its reliance on in-game purchases, and its frequent collaborations with other franchises. While not a traditional gemstone, the Birthstone Backplate serves as a unique example of how the concept of birthstones can be integrated into the digital world.