Despite the Sandstorm Event of Chapter 5 Season 2, Fortnite is seemingly going to stay dusty into Season 3. 

May 16’s major Sandstorm Event culminated in red lightning striking Pandora’s Box and releasing an unknown “thing.” This unknown thing then went on to jump islands and create a giant sandstorm that, over the last few days, has been steadily moving closer to Helios. 

Ahead of the Chapter 3 release, the official Fortnite X account hinted that the sandstorm may bring an apocalyptic change of scenery to the game. The setting is also speculated to tie into possible collaborations between Fortnite and other major franchises.

Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 3 going apocalyptic with Fallout skins

Fortnite is set to bring Fallout skins to the game, and fans are questioning what other IPs could be folded in.

One post on X from Fortnite contains an emoji version of the Vault Boy and power armor, both from Fallout. Fallout, meanwhile, tweeted the same image containing the Fortnite logo. Both accounts’ social media activity points to a Season 3 collaboration.

Fallout is well-known for its desert wastelands following a nuclear war, and a similar setting has been featured in the Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 3’s promotional material. Typically, Fortnite collaborations are confined to a batch of skins and items, as seen with John Wick. Fallout matches with the confirmed post-apocalyptic setting in a way that could foretell it having a larger role.

Fallout isn’t the only potential explanation for the sandstorm and deserted wastelands of Fortnite, Chapter 5 Season 3. Some fans are speculating that Marvel Comics‘ Sandman could be the reason for all of the sand going everywhere. Marvel was featured in the credits of the new Fortnite Season 3 trailer and Disney’s presence in the game has been growing rapidly with rapid-fire MCU collabs ranging from Loki to Guardians of the Galaxy. 

Still, others are hoping for a Fortnite-Mad Max collaboration, noting that the vehicles and logo are similar to the additional post-apocalyptic wasteland setting franchise. Furiosa, the newest Mad Max movie, is also releasing on the same day as Fortnite’s Season 3. This has many speculating that the two will come together in some form. While none of the Mad Max creators are referenced in the trailer, a collaboration could come later in the season.

Whatever the reason for the sandstorm may be, curious fans will be able to find out upon the release of Chapter 5 Season 3 on May 24th.