Gaming Guide

Kyo Sidekick in Fortnite: How to Claim It Free

Original Kyo back bling owners get the new Uncommon Sidekick at no cost, while everyone else waits for the Item Shop.

Original Kyo back bling owners get the new Uncommon Sidekick at no cost, while everyone else waits for the Item Shop.

Epic Games keeps turning old Chapter 1 pets into full Sidekicks, and Kyo is the latest to make the jump. The tech-themed cat now follows you around the map as a companion instead of just sitting on your back. If you held onto the original Kyo pet back bling, you can add the Sidekick to your locker without spending a single V-Buck.

Quick answer: The Kyo Sidekick is granted free to any account that owns the original Kyo pet back bling from Chapter 1 Season 9. Log in, then check your locker under Sidekicks to confirm it arrived. Everyone else can buy it from the Item Shop for 1,200 V-Bucks.

Fortnite Kyo Sidekick Free
Image: Epic Games

Who qualifies for the free Kyo Sidekick

The free grant is tied to one thing only. You must own the original Kyo pet back bling, which was a Chapter 1 Season 9 Battle Pass reward unlocked at tier 28. If that cosmetic is in your locker, the Sidekick is yours at no extra cost.

This follows the same pattern Epic used for other pet-turned-Sidekicks like Kitsune and Empress, where the original owners received the upgraded companion automatically. The Kyo Sidekick itself is an Uncommon item, part of the Sky Style set, with the in-game tagline “Activate purr protocol.”

DetailKyo Sidekick
RarityUncommon
SetSky Style
Free forOwners of the Chapter 1 Season 9 Kyo back bling
Shop price1,200 V-Bucks
Compatible modesBattle Royale, Zero Build, LEGO Fortnite

How to claim the Kyo Sidekick

Sign in to Fortnite on the account that owns the original Kyo back bling. The grant is account-based, so make sure you are using the correct profile rather than a newer or alternate account.
Watch for the grant notification on launch. Eligible accounts should receive the Kyo Sidekick automatically, with no quests, challenges, or purchases required.
If no pop-up appears, open the Locker and sort your collection by Sidekicks. The Kyo Sidekick should be listed there once it has been added to your library.
Equip it before you queue into a match. It works in Battle Royale, Zero Build, and LEGO Fortnite, so you can take the companion into whichever mode you prefer.

Customize once, and the choice sticks

Kyo comes with unlockable styles and built-in options you can set through the Customize screen in your locker. Be deliberate here. The customization is a one-time action, and once you confirm your appearance choices, they become permanent for that Sidekick.

Note: review every available style before you lock anything in. There is no redo on the permanent selections, so settle on the look you actually want before confirming.


Buying Kyo if you missed the original back bling

If you never owned the Chapter 1 Season 9 pet, the free grant does not apply to you. The Kyo Sidekick is heading to the Item Shop at a later date, where it will sell for 1,200 V-Bucks. There is no confirmed shop date right now, so watch the storefront rather than relying on any specific time.


How to confirm it worked

You know the grant succeeded when the Kyo Sidekick shows up in your Locker under the Sidekicks filter and can be equipped. If it is missing, the most common reason is a mismatch with the account. Double-check that you logged in on the exact profile that holds the original Kyo back bling, since the free version only goes to that account.

For owners of that classic pet, no extra effort is needed beyond logging in and equipping it. Everyone else can grab the same companion once it rotates into the shop.