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Peely
Fortnite character
Peely as he appears in Fortnite Battle Royale
First appearance

Peely is a character who appears in the Fortnite video game, developed and published by Epic Games. The character first appeared as an unlockable outfit in Season 8 of the first chapter of Fortnite Battle Royale.

Development and design

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The inspiration for Peely came from the music video to the Buckwheat Boyz song Peanut Butter Jelly Time in which a cartoon Banana can be seen doing a dance which would become Peely's battle pass emote.[1][better source needed]

Peely is an anthropomorphic banana with humanoid features.[2] Kotaku writer Riley MacLeod noted that Peely has "oddly muscular arms and legs",[3] while Jordan Gerblick of GamesRadar+ has noted Peely having a "doe-eyed gaze".[4] Alternate designs of Peely have been included in the game, beginning with a Halloween-themed design, which first launched in October 2019 for that year's "Fortnitemares" event.[5] This skin was a partially skeletal version of the original Peely outfit.[2] In July 2020, "Unpeely", a skin featuring Peely without a peel was released for the game's "Summer Legends" cosmetics pack.[6][7] By December 2023, there were twelve outfit variants of Peely.[8]

Appearances

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Peely first appeared in "X Marks the Spot", which was Season 8 of the first chapter of Fortnite Battle Royale.[3][6] The season ran from February through May 2019. In this season, Peely was unlocked at level 47 of the game's battle pass.[3] In the subsequent Season 9, Peely escapes from an erupting volcano and heads into an underground vault with another character, named Jonesy.[9] After time passes, Jonesy emerges from the vault, though apparently having blended Peely into a milkshake.[9] Nevertheless, Peely is shown still sentient, flashing a smile.[9] Epic released a cinematic short on YouTube to reveal Peely's "Fornitemares" outfit, dubbed "Peely Bone".[5] Peely later appears in the second season of Chapter 2, wearing a tuxedo.[10]

In August 2021, Fortnite released its "Imposters" mode, similar in vein to the social deduction game Among Us. In the mode, imposters were given the ability to make all other players temporarily appear as Peely.[11]

In Season 1 of Chapter 4 of Fortnite's narrative, Epic introduced "Peely's Plunder"–an augment, or buff, that allows players to track buried loot.[12] Peely later appears in Chapter 5 of the game's storyline, where he is kidnapped.[13]

A version of Peely as Wolverine, dubbed "Peelverine", is featured in the Chapter 5 Season 4 battle pass, with the season themed after Marvel and named "Absolute Doom". Peely was first seen using Wolverine's claws in the trailer for the previous Marvel season, Chapter 2 Season 4, titled "Nexus War".[14]

Role in Epic Games v. Apple

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Main article: Epic Games v. Apple

Peely's design and "Agent Peely" outfit variant were mentioned during the 2021 trial for the lawsuit brought by Epic Games against Apple.[15] The legal battle between Epic and Apple revolved around "the profits from the mobile iOS version" of Fortnite.[16] The Agent Peely variant, which features Peely sporting a tuxedo, was referenced and shown by Apple's representation to provide a visual aid for what Fortnite players can do in the game's creative mode.[17][18]

A lawyer representing Apple stated, "We thought it better to go with the suit than the naked banana since we are in federal court this morning".[19] Though the Apple lawyer's statement was viewed as a joke by media outlets,[17][18] it drew a response from Epic. A lawyer representing Epic asked for Matthew Weissinger, the developer-publisher's marketing director, to clarify if there was "anything inappropriate about Peely without clothes", to which Weissinger was quoted as stating "It's just a banana, ma'am".[20][21] The exchange attracted media coverage, with The Washington Post's Shannon Liao writing that "Experts consulted by The Post described the exchange as irrelevant to antitrust — though amusing."[20] In her ruling on the case, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers concurred with Weissinger's sentiments that Peely is just a "banana man", added that Apple's dressing of Peely in a tuxedo was done in "jest to reflect the general solemnity of a federal court proceeding", and called the "additional attire" unnecessary.[17][19][22]

Promotion and reception

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Peely has made several appearances in Fortnite merchandising. In November 2019, a Funko Pop of Peely was released.[23] Later, in 2021, Nintendo released their "Fortnite Fleet Force Bundle", which included a set of Joy-Con featuring a yellow Peely-themed controller.[4][24] Also in 2021, McFarlane Toys released a 7" figurine of the Peely Bone outfit.[25] Epic collaborated with American artist Kaws to release a Peely outfit themed after the artist's style.[26] Epic Games also released a Christmas ornament based on Peely's "Polar Peely" variant outfit.[27] In December 2023, Epic partnered with Lego to release a Lego version of a Peely variant outfit.[8] PowerA, an American video game accessory manufacturer, released Peely-themed accessories including controllers and Nintendo Switch cases in February 2024.[28]

The character has been noted to be a popularly-selected character, with Tanner Dedmon of ComicBook.com writing that Peely has "persisted between seasons and has become a frequent pick with different variations released."[23] In November 2021, Heavy's Eli Becht wrote that "against all odds Peely has become an icon."[29] Though a popular skin in the game, Peely and his design have bemused Fortnite's player base and media writers alike.[3] Calling Peely a "silly skin", Patricia Hernandez of Kotaku wrote that "Peely has never 100% made sense. When the giant banana was introduced in Season 8, everyone seemed confused over its anatomy."[2] Fellow Kotaku writer Ian Walker called Peely "grotesque".[30] Writing for GameRevolution, Adam N. Roberts stated that "Peely, on its own, is already pretty strange looking. While a casual glance makes it seem like a guy in a banana suit, it's actually some kind of eldritch banana demon with skinny arms and legs".[5] Walker similarly referred to Peely as a "Lovecraftian ghoul".[19]

Variants of Peely have also attracted media coverage. Analyzing Peely's "Summer Legends" design, MacLeod wrote: "Props to Epic's artists: Peely's peel-less body is intensely evocative of actual bananas. When you look at him, you can practically feel the squishy, nubby sensation of peeling a banana that's been sitting in your beach cooler all day".[7] Two Peely variants were included in a Dot Esports ranking of the ten best Fortnite skins: Peely's original variant was ranked at tenth, while his "Polar Peely" variant was ranked as the overall best, with the outlet noting that players who equip the Polar variant are "sweaty" and "mean business".[31]

References

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  1. ^ "The 10 funniest and best meme skins in Fortnite". Gamepur. July 7, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Hernandez, Patricia (October 31, 2019). "I have questions about the zombie Peely Fortnite skin". Polygon. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d MacLeod, Riley (March 5, 2019). "Fortnite's New Banana Skin Is Not Right". Kotaku. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Gerblick, Jordan (March 15, 2021). "Fortnite's official Joy-Cons come with banana face and in-game items". GamesRadar+. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Adams, Robert N. (October 31, 2019). "The Fortnite Peely Halloween skin is creepy as hell". GameRevolution. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Self, Callum (December 22, 2022). "Fortnite all Peely skins and how to get". The Loadout. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  7. ^ a b MacLeod, Riley (July 29, 2020). "Oh God, Fortnite Made Peely Worse". Kotaku. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Thomas, Harrison (December 6, 2023). "One iconic Fortnite skin's LEGO update has players losing their minds". Dot Esports. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c Avard, Alex (May 9, 2019). "The Fortnite season 9 trailer is here, and it charts out a bright new future of battle royale". GamesRadar+. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  10. ^ Webster, Andrew (February 20, 2020). "Fortnite: Chapter 2's new season is all about secret agents and well-muscled cats". The Verge. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  11. ^ Goslin, Austen (August 17, 2021). "Fortnite's new Impostors mode sounds suspiciously like Among Us". Polygon. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  12. ^ "How to use the Peely's Plunder Augment to find buried treasure in Fortnite". Eurogamer. January 20, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  13. ^ Webster, Andrew (December 2, 2023). "Peely has been kidnapped in the first Fortnite Chapter 5 trailer". The Verge. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  14. ^ Reynolds, Matthew (August 16, 2024). "Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 4 battle pass skins list, including Gwenpool, Peelverine, Mysterio, and Shuri". Polygon. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  15. ^ MacLeod, Riley (May 10, 2021). "Even Apple Knows Fortnite's Peely Is A Monster". Kotaku. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  16. ^ Vaca, Noah (May 10, 2021). "Fortnite's Questionable Peely Skin Finds Its Way Into Courtroom During Epic vs. Apple Case". Game Rant. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  17. ^ a b c Porter, Jon (September 10, 2021). "Epic v. Apple judge rules Fortnite's Peely can appear naked in court". The Verge. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Valentine, Rebekah (September 10, 2021). "Epic v. Apple: US Court Formally Punts on Trying to Define What a Video Game Is". IGN. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  19. ^ a b c Walker, Ian (September 10, 2021). "Breaking: Fortnite Banana Man Saga Ends With Official Court Ruling". Kotaku. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  20. ^ a b Liao, Shannon (May 13, 2021). "Understanding legal arguments in Epic v. Apple: Tinder, itch.io and a naked banana". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  21. ^ Wilde, Tyler (May 10, 2021). "Fortnite banana's nude body briefly becomes focus of Epic v Apple trial". PC Gamer. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  22. ^ Tyler, Joshua Edward (September 13, 2021). "Fortnite's Peely Is the Biggest Winner Of Apple v. Epic Lawsuit". Screen Rant. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  23. ^ a b Dedmon, Tanner (November 22, 2019). "Funko Reveals New Fortnite Pops". ComicBook.com. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  24. ^ Farokhmanesh, Megan (March 15, 2021). "Fortnite Fleet Force bundle includes Peely-themed Joy-Cons for your Nintendo Switch". The Verge. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  25. ^ Roberts, Tyler (June 29, 2021). "Peely Bone Rises From The Grave With New McFarlane Toys Fortnite". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  26. ^ Gutierrez, Luis Joshua (July 1, 2022). "Kawspeely Skin Is Coming To Fortnite". GameSpot. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  27. ^ "Fortnite Polar Peely Ornament". Hallmark. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  28. ^ Bitner, Jon (February 20, 2024). "Fortnite Wireless Controller Preorder Comes With In-Game Content". GameSpot. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  29. ^ Becht, Eli (November 8, 2021). "Fortnite Making Yet Another Peely Skin in Season 8". Heavy. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  30. ^ Walker, Ian (March 17, 2021). "Fortnite's Awful Banana Man Is Finally Dead". Kotaku. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  31. ^ Harrison, Christian; McClain, Dominique' (August 17, 2023). "Best Fortnite skins, ranked (2023)". Dot Esports. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
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