Fortnite’s latest Star Wars-themed season has introduced one of its most talked-about cosmetic skins yet — Darth Jar Jar — a character hailing from a galaxy far, far away. However, players were met with an unexpected challenge: unlocking this skin requires not only in-game currency but also a hefty XP grind.

Darth Jar Jar made his debut in Fortnite’s Shop over the weekend, but accessing the option to purchase him isn’t straightforward. Players must first earn 1.28 million XP before the skin even becomes available for purchase at 1500 V-Bucks (approximately $13). While Fortnite has previously locked skins behind XP requirements, it's been rare in recent seasons — especially for a character as highly anticipated as Darth Jar Jar.

With the Star Wars season set to conclude on June 7, time is now limited for players aiming to complete the XP requirement. Those who have already finished their Battle Pass now face a new level grind just to unlock the skin. This approach has sparked backlash across community forums and Reddit threads.

"I was so hyped for this skin and was fine with it being behind a paywall — after all, it's just another skin," wrote one disappointed fan. "But locking it behind an XP wall? You want me to earn the right to give you money? I immediately closed the game."

Adding to the frustration, the standard Jar Jar Binks skin is also available for 1500 V-Bucks — without any XP requirement. For players looking to collect both versions along with various accessories like back blings and emotes, the total cost could reach up to 6,500 V-Bucks — nearly $50.

"Regular Jar Jar alone is $20," another player noted. "If you want both, that’s $52 for something that should’ve just been one skin with three styles."

Fortnite x Star Wars Watch Party Island Screenshots

View 7 Images

Some fans have taken a more positive stance, arguing that cosmetics are optional and that the XP grind wasn't as bad as it initially seemed.

"It wasn't that hard to earn the XP — took me around 8 or 9 hours," said one player. "I had no plans on Saturday anyway. I did it in three sessions, all within one day. I played Rocket Racing, Ranked, and Alignment Challenges to farm as much XP as possible."

He added, "Nothing forces you to buy every item in the Shop. You can pick and choose. And considering Deathstroke was 1800 V-Bucks, I wasn't too bothered by the price. I was pissed off at first, until I realized after a couple of hours that I already had over 300,000 XP."

This week, Fortnite’s Star Wars season continues with a focus on Mandalorian warriors, including the upcoming release of a customizable Mandalorian skin in the Shop.

The season will culminate in a live narrative event on June 7, which many believe will involve players boarding the ominous Death Star that has loomed over the map since the season began.

Earlier this month, tensions between Epic Games and Apple escalated further after Fortnite was reportedly blocked from returning to the iPhone App Store in the U.S., adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing saga.