Ariana Grande gears up to headline 'Fortnite' Rift Tour

The 'Into You' singer will perform five in-game concerts across three days starting Friday

Singer Ariana Grande is performing five concerts for the Fortnite Rift Tour this weekend. Getty Images

One of the year’s biggest musical performances is taking place on Friday, unaffected by the global lockdown and happening within the realms of a video game.

Ariana Grande is teleporting into the virtual world of Fortnite for a series of in-game concerts that run from August 6 to 8.

The popstar known for hits like thank u, next and Bang Bang is headlining Fortnite Rift Tour. Players logging into the gaming platform will be able to watch Grande’s digital avatar perform some of her hit tunes on Battle Royale island.

It's not the first time that the singer has entered the gaming world. Grande has been a regular guest in Final Fantasy Brave Exvius since 2017.

The Into You singer's Rift Tour is a follow-up to last year's live music event, when Travis Scott appeared on the platform for a performance that was watched by more than 12 million players.

That concert lasted less than 15 minutes, but encompassed the entire island map of the game, with players rushing to follow the rapper through mind-bending landscapes as the show progressed. Many more tuned in on streaming platforms Twitch and YouTube.

For those hoping to tune in to Fortnite see Grande in action, Rift Tour dates are not region locked but are being screened at various times so players can select which one suits best.

Friday’s show will begin at 2am (UAE time) and the Saturday event starts at 10pm. On Sunday, there are three shows scheduled at 8am, 6pm and 2am.

How to join 'Fortnite'

If Grande’s arrival is enough to tempt you to try Fortnite for the first time, here is what you need to do to get ready for the show.

1. Download Fortnite – it’s free and available on PlayStation 5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android and PC.

2. Ensure you have the latest update installed. The Rift Tour will only be available with the v17.30 update.

2. Get in early – organisers recommend loading Fortnite at least an hour before the show starts and the Rift Tour playlist will begin 30 minutes before the concert does. If capacity is reached before the show starts, you’ll have to try again for one of the other shows.

Before Grande's arrival, each performance will begin with Fortnite-themed experiences that pair popular tracks with moments based on elements from the video game.

All players taking part in the Rift Tour event will get a virtual Cuddly Cloudcruiser commemorative umbrella as a souvenir.