I hit the Item Shop refresh and the lobby temperature spiked. You see Patrick’s grin in the spotlight and your thumb tightens over the purchase button. I felt that tiny rush—this is the moment you decide fast or miss out.
I’ve been tracking Fortnite collabs for years, and you know how these drops move: fast, loud, and gone. I’ll walk you through when Patrick lands, how much he’ll cost in real money, the fastest way to buy him, and the little tricks players use to avoid buyer’s remorse.
When the Item Shop resets, players rush in — Release time and what it costs
When will the Patrick Star Sidekick release in Fortnite?
Epic Games drops the Patrick Star Sidekick into the Item Shop on July 23, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET as part of the Fortnite x SpongeBob SquarePants movie Wave 2. The release accompanies a new Ice Spice skin and other themed cosmetics, so expect a clustered splash that pulls eyes and wallets.
How much will the Patrick Star Sidekick cost in Fortnite?
The Sidekick itself is priced at 1,500 V‑Bucks. That’s roughly $11.99 (€11) if you buy the V‑Bucks you need rather than drawing from an existing balance. Prices and perceived value change when you buy a bundle, which often trims the effective cost per item.
You open Fortnite and the Item Shop blinks — How to buy Patrick Star Sidekick (step-by-step)
- Launch Fortnite and wait for the Item Shop to refresh after the daily reset on July 23, 2026.
- Tap the Item Shop tab from the top bar and scan the featured sections; the SpongeBob collab will be prominent because it’s Wave 2 of the campaign.
- Find the Patrick Star Sidekick entry and select it — the sticker price will read 1,500 V‑Bucks.
- Confirm you have sufficient V‑Bucks in your Epic account. If not, purchase V‑Bucks through your platform store or redeem a V‑Bucks card on the Epic Games website.
- Hold the Purchase button until the transaction completes, then open your Locker to equip the Sidekick.
The Patrick Sidekick is a pocket-sized hype machine.
Bundles often hide savings — Bundles, V‑Bucks, and how long Patrick will stay
Bundles are where Epic Teams the compute with marketing: the Ice Spice + Patrick bundle should offer a discount versus buying each piece separately. If you were planning to buy both, the bundle will generally lower the effective price per cosmetic.
You can redeem V‑Bucks Cards on the Epic Games site or buy V‑Bucks directly on PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, Nintendo eShop, or the Epic Games Store. Buying a mid-size V‑Bucks pack often gives the best per‑V‑Buck value for a single Sidekick purchase.
Cosmetics rotate quickly. Patrick will leave the Item Shop after a short run — usually a few days — so hesitation carries a real cost: missed availability. Think of adding him to your locker as a golden ticket for chaotic matches.
Between Epic Games’ social channels, Fortnite’s in-game notifications, and outlets like the Epic Games Store announcements, I watch for drops so you don’t have to chase rumors. Will you snag Patrick the moment he hits the shop or wait for a bundle—and what would you pay to bring him to every match?