I logged in the minute the item shop flipped and felt my heart skip — the Empress pet had been a one-time buy back in Chapter 1 Season 8. For a second I wondered if the account I’d used back then would still hold that tiny victory. Then I found the Sidekick waiting for me, like spotting a rare comet in a crowded sky.
I’ve chased seasonal drops, argued on Reddit threads, and messaged Epic Games support enough times to know how these retro upgrades work. You don’t need quests, luck, or a fresh Battle Pass — you just need the right purchase history and the correct account. I’ll walk you through the exact steps so you can claim the Empress Sidekick without a scramble.
Queues still form at the item shop reset — how to get the Empress Sidekick for free in Fortnite
If you bought the Empress pet back bling during Chapter 1 Season 8 (it was listed at 1,000 V-Bucks, originally), Epic Games will now grant you the full Empress Sidekick automatically. No new quests, no extra cosmetics required. The Sidekick behaves like other pets-turned-sidekicks such as Bonesy and Kitsune: cosmetic, loyal, and purely optional.
- Step 1: Log into Fortnite with the account that originally purchased the Empress pet back bling after the Item Shop reset on March 21, 2026.
- Step 2: The Empress Sidekick should appear in your inventory automatically. If it doesn’t, go to your Locker and filter by Sidekicks — it will be listed there.
- Step 3: Customize and equip the Empress Sidekick before you drop into Battle Royale or LEGO Fortnite.
If you don’t see the Sidekick and you’re certain you bought the original back bling, check your connected platform (Epic account, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, or Nintendo Account) and sync those libraries. I’ve fixed missing items this way more than once by reconciling storefront accounts and then relaunching the client.
Is the Empress Sidekick free for all Fortnite players?
No. Only players who previously purchased the Empress pet back bling from Chapter 1 Season 8 will receive the Sidekick for free. If you didn’t buy that back bling back then, the automatic grant won’t apply to your account.
Will the Empress Sidekick appear in the Fortnite Item Shop?
Yes. If you miss the free claim window because you never bought the original back bling, Epic Games plans to put the Empress Sidekick in the Item Shop during Chapter 7 Season 2 for 1,200 V-Bucks. That price point typically maps to about $9.99 (€10), depending on regional pricing and any Epic promotions.
Do I need to finish quests to get the Empress Sidekick for free?
No quests. If your account owns the original Empress back bling, Epic will grant the Sidekick without any additional tasks. That’s the whole point of these retro conversions — Epic ties new cosmetic formats to old purchases so collectors don’t have to grind again.
If you missed the original 1,000 V-Bucks offer back in Chapter 1 Season 8, the Item Shop route is your fallback. You can purchase V-Bucks through the standard Fortnite storefront on PC (Epic Games launcher), consoles (PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, Nintendo eShop), or mobile where available. If you want tips on safe purchases, I recommend buying directly through Epic and linking your accounts to avoid cross-platform confusion.
The Empress Sidekick’s arrival is a quiet reminder that cosmetic systems are maturing — old pets are being converted into persistent companions, and Epic Games is rewarding past buyers. Treat your locker like a small museum: sometimes the thing you paid for years ago comes back to follow you into a match, like a loyal hound at your heels.
Did you qualify for the free Empress Sidekick, or are you planning to buy it from the shop — and why does that feel like a flex to you?