You know that feeling when you're just sitting there, staring at the screen, waiting for the Battle Bus to finally launch? Most people use those few seconds to check their phone or grab a drink. But if you’re doing that right now, you’re honestly missing out on a massive amount of lore tucked away in the new fortnite loading screen drops we’ve seen this month.
Epic Games has been sneaky lately. We’re deep into January 2026, and the Chapter 7 Season 1 "Pacific Break" vibes are everywhere. But it isn’t just about the LA-inspired palm trees and neon lights anymore. Between the Kizuna AI collab and the sudden South Park mini-pass, the loading screens have become a literal treasure map for what’s coming next week.
The "Born in Chaos" Mystery
If you've been grinding the South Park "Friendly Faces Everywhere" quests, you probably unlocked the "Born in Chaos" loading screen. At first glance, it looks like standard crossover art. But look closer at the background.
There’s a silhouette behind the main characters that doesn't belong in Colorado. It looks suspiciously like the "Pimlico" teaser that leakers like ShiinaBR and AdrinaFNInfo have been talking about. For those not keeping up with the 2026 leak cycle, Pimlico is the codename for that rumored basketball/Fall Guys hybrid mode that’s supposed to drop around January 22.
Why hide it in a South Park screen? Because Epic loves a good "meta" joke. They know we’re looking for the high-octane stuff, so they bury it in the comedy collabs.
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Kizuna AI and the Virtual Shift
Then we have the "It's KizunaAI!" screen. This one hit the shop on January 16, 2026, alongside the first-ever VTuber Icon Series skin. It’s vibrant, it’s pink, and it’s basically a love letter to the virtual streaming community.
What’s interesting is the "Hello, world!" text hidden in the metadata of this screen. In the dev world, that’s the first thing you type when you're bringing something new to life. Fans are speculating that this loading screen is actually a hint at a massive UI overhaul or a new "Virtual World" social hub coming in Chapter 7 Season 2.
Why Loading Screens Still Matter in 2026
Back in the day, loading screens were just cool concept art. Now? They’re functional.
Take the "Signs of The Seven" screen from the Battle Pass. It was illustrated by Bruno Seelig and actually features Marty McFly (yes, the Back to the Future collab is still the highlight of the season for me). If you look at the flux capacitor in the background, the dates shown aren't just random numbers. They align perfectly with the scheduled downtime for the v39.30 update.
It’s basically a calendar disguised as art.
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How to Get the Newest Drops
If you're trying to fill out your locker, here is the current situation for January:
- The "Born in Chaos" Screen: You need 7,000 Cred in the South Park mini-pass. It’s free, so just keep doing those swimming and damage quests.
- "It's KizunaAI!": This is part of the 3,200 V-Buck bundle. It’s leaving the shop on January 26, so don't wait if you want the "Hello, Morning" vibes.
- The Pimlico Teaser: Keep an eye on your gift box. Rumor has it that players who participate in the upcoming basketball trials on January 21 will get a Fall Guys-themed loading screen for free.
Honestly, the "Pacific Break" season has been a wild ride. We started with LA-style surfing and ended up with Doc Brown and VTubers. It's chaotic, but that's why we still play this game, right?
Actionable Steps for Your Locker
To make sure you don't miss the next big lore drop, start checking the "Artist" credits on your screens. Epic has been hiring specific illustrators like Logan Faerber to plant "Pacific Break" secrets that only show up when you've got your brightness turned up.
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Also, make sure you've finished the "Friendly Faces" Part 1 quests before January 21. When the Pimlico update hits, those old rewards might get cycled out faster than usual to make room for the basketball-themed gear. Grab your "Born in Chaos" screen now so you can study those background silhouettes for clues about Chapter 7 Season 2.
Go check your locker—you might already have a hint sitting there that you haven't looked at yet.