Epic is handing out the Dark Voyager Sidekick to players who show up for the Shattered live event with friends. The catch is simple. Going in alone only gets you the pickaxe, so the Sidekick is tied directly to playing the event as a squad.
Quick answer: Join the Shattered live event playlist on June 5, 2026 at 7 PM ET with at least one friend in your party, finish the event, then check your Locker. The Dark Voyager Sidekick unlocks for everyone who attends with one or more friends.
Release time: June 5, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET (doors open 6:20 PM ET)
Free Dark Voyager Sidekick requirements
The reward split is the part that trips people up. The pickaxe is the no-strings prize, while the Sidekick needs company. You can fill your party with up to three other members and still qualify, so a full squad works fine.
| Reward | How to get it | Party requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Dark Voyager Pickaxe | Attend the Shattered live event | Solo is fine |
| Dark Voyager Sidekick | Attend the Shattered live event | At least 1 friend in your party (up to 3 others) |
Shattered live event date and time
The Shattered live event runs on June 5, 2026 at 7 PM ET, with doors opening at 6:20 PM ET so you can load in early. It marks the end of Chapter 7 Season 2, and servers go into downtime immediately afterward as the game rolls over to the next season.
The event has its own playlist, similar to how Blitz Royale and Battle Royale each get a separate tab in the lobby. Look for the dedicated Shattered tab rather than expecting it inside standard Battle Royale.
How to claim the Dark Voyager Sidekick
Step 1: Launch Fortnite ahead of the start time and open the Shattered live event playlist from the lobby. Doors open at 6:20 PM ET, so getting in early helps you avoid queue pressure before the 7 PM ET start.
Step 2: Invite at least one friend to your party. You can bring up to three other players in your squad, and any of those setups satisfies the Sidekick requirement.
Step 3: Ready up with your party and play through the live event together. Staying with your group is what ties the attendance to the friend condition.
Step 4: After the event ends and downtime clears, load back in and open your Locker. The Dark Voyager Sidekick and Pickaxe should both appear there.
How to confirm the unlock worked
Because servers go down right after the event, the rewards are expected to land when you first load into Chapter 7 Season 3. Open the Locker and look for the Dark Voyager Sidekick under your pets and the Dark Voyager Pickaxe under harvesting tools. If both show up, the unlock went through.
The most common reason the Sidekick fails to appear is attending solo. The pickaxe still drops in that case, but the Sidekick only triggers when you played the event with a friend in your party.
If you want the Sidekick without buying it later in the shop, the window is the Shattered event itself. Line up a friend before June 5, jump into the dedicated playlist, and the pet should be waiting in your Locker once the new season opens.