• by Colin Kirkland , Yesterday

After basing its current “Festival” season on Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter Sabrina Carpenter and her “eccentric brand of pop,” Fortnite has announced a new challenge that will give players the chance to contribute to Carpenter's in-game show.

Between May 30  and June 16, “Dance With Sabrina” will bring Fortnite players directly into a performance with the pop-star's avatar on the Festival Jam Stage by way of a competition to see who can best match Carpenter's rhythm.

In the “reimagined interactive music experience,” Fortnite says, players attempt to fill up their heart meters by matching the beat of chart-topping songs like “Espresso” and “Bed Chem.” Whoever accumulates the most hearts will be invited to “contribute to the show” as a dance leader, special effects professional, or a video artist.

Dance leaders use emotes to choreograph backup dance routines, while special effects pros have free reign over visual effects, while video artists can choose the backdrop for the show.

High-ranking players will be pictured with Carpenter’s avatar in the challenge's finale snapshot. 

Carpenter has been featured in Fortnite since the start of Season 8, which launched at the start of April. As a result, players have been able to buy outfits and instruments inspired by Carpenter, as well as a handful of her most popular songs, including “Juno” and “Nonsense.”

According to Epic Games’ Director of Music, Talent & Influencer Emily Levy, Fortnite players showed record engagement with Sabrina Carpenter-branded outfits and dance emotes.

Over the past two years, Fortnite has been attempting to expand its offerings from a Battle Royale first-person-shooter game to one that encompasses a wider array of its players' interests.

A major focus of this content expansion has revolved around the game's involvement with the music industry, with early in-game shows performed by Travis Scott, Marshmello and The Weeknd, garnering millions of views.

Along with its Lego launch and Rocket League partnership, “Fortnite Festival” -- an experience likened to Dance Dance Revolution or Guitar Hero -- has become a hit for the metaverse gaming platform, featuring headlining artists like Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Metallica, Snoop Dogg, Karol G, and now Sabrina Carpenter.