Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Andrew Sanford | News | January 9, 2026
South Park released an episode in 2002 that had a (cheeky) axe to grind. Two years previously, the folks behind the show had been writing an episode in which they wanted Cartman to block out the sun. However, one of the writers noted that The Simpsons had already done that with Mr. Burns, and the idea was scrapped. The crew held onto their playful resentment and eventually released Simpsons Already Did It, poking fun at the similarities between the two shows.
The whole crux of the episode is that there is going to be some crossover in ideas, especially when you’re making so many episodes of television every year. They note that while they may produce some ideas that are similar to Simpsons gags, the yellow Springfieldiens have done the same, often intentionally. Not only have they homaged and reproduced the ideas of others, but they’ve even gone back to their own well on several occasions. So, we can be more forgiving now that South Park is once again “copying” their famed “competition.”
The boys of South Park will be taking over Fortnite starting today. Users will have a whole host of characters and items to unlock while running around a version of Cartman’s theme park, which includes various locations from the show. Epic Games released a trailer for the crossover that feels like a mini-episode, complete with a reference to The Stick of Truth, a fantastic South Park video game that came out almost twelve years ago, which feels insane to write.
I was swayed to come out of Fortnite retirement to play in the game’s virtual Springfield this past fall, and I had more fun than I expected. It’s still Fortnite, a game I do not particularly care for, but, since Simpsons video games are few and far between these days, it was fun to play with them on my XBOX, limited though the experience may have been. My love of South Park is not nearly as strong, but I’d be lying if I said the trailer didn’t make me a bit curious.
What’s wild about this whole thing is that Fortnite remains such a cultural force. We’re years removed from Palpatine’s resurrection being announced in-game, and the third-person shooter still holds incredible sway. That’s why, while I was playful in the headline, it’s hard to judge South Park for following The Simpsons down this path. I’m sure they were paid well for it, and they can try and sink their claws into a new generation, while activating thirty-somethings like myself who actually have a Friday night free. Win-win.
