Fortnite's Star Wars season has just unveiled one of its most anticipated skins yet, Darth Jar Jar, sending waves of excitement and frustration through its community. This iconic skin, hailing from a galaxy far, far away, is locked behind a formidable 1.28 million XP grind, requiring players to put in significant effort before they can even consider purchasing it. Once that milestone is reached, Darth Jar Jar can be yours for 1500 V-Bucks, roughly $13.

While Fortnite has previously used XP requirements to unlock skins, this move marks a rare occurrence, especially for a skin as eagerly awaited as Darth Jar Jar during the condensed Star Wars season. With the season set to end on June 7, the clock is ticking for players to earn the necessary XP, adding an extra layer of challenge for those who have already completed their battle pass.

The community's reaction has been mixed. One fan on Reddit expressed their disappointment, stating, "I was so hyped for this skin and was fine with it being behind a pay wall, after all it is just another skin. But this whole locked behind an XP wall is ridiculous. You want me to earn the right to give you money? I immediately closed the game." This sentiment reflects a broader frustration with the additional grind required to access the skin.

Adding to the debate, the simultaneous release of a regular Jar Jar Binks skin, which requires no XP but still costs 1500 V-Bucks, has stirred further controversy. The total cost for all Jar Jar Binks accessories, including both Sith and Gungan variants, can reach up to 6,500 V-Bucks. One player remarked, "Regular Jar Jar alone is 20 dollars. If you want both that s\*\*t is 52 entire ass dollars for something that ought to have just been 1 skin with 3 styles."

On the other hand, some players have defended the approach, noting that Jar Jar is merely a cosmetic item. One fan shared their experience, saying, "It wasn't that hard to earn the XP; it took me around 8/9 hours. I had no plans on Saturday. I did it in 3 sittings, but all in one day. I played Rocket Racing and Ranked and did Alignment Challenges to farm as much XP as possible. Nothing is making anyone get every item in the Shop; you can just pick and choose, and the fact he was just 1500 V-Bucks when Deathstroke was 1,800 V-Bucks, I wasn't bothered at all by the price. I was pissed off at first, then I realised after a couple of hours that I had over 300,000 XP already."

Fortnite x Star Wars Watch Party Island Screenshots

View 7 Images

As Fortnite's Star Wars season progresses, the focus shifts to Mandalorian warriors, with a new customizable Mandalorian skin set to debut in the game's Shop. The season will culminate in a live narrative event on June 7, speculated to involve a dramatic encounter with the Death Star, which has loomed over the game's Island since the season began.

Amidst these developments, Epic Games continues to navigate its ongoing dispute with Apple, which recently escalated when Fortnite was barred from returning to the iPhone App Store in the US.