What if Hellfest came to Fortnite? That's the bold challenge taken up by ARTE with ARTE Riff Mountain, its first project onEpic Games' Battle Royale. This video game experience, developed in partnership with SoWhen? The CreaTech Company, immerses players in a universe inspired by Hellfest, the famous metal music festival in Clisson. The island, accessible on Fortnite during the 2026 edition of the festival, from June 18 to 21, promises an adventure that is both immersive and cultural. The pitch: every 666 years, "The Riff Mountain" rises from the earth, opening a portal to a supernatural power. Only "the power of metal" can activate it.
Previewed at Paris Games Week, this unique project transposes the world of Hellfest into an "amusement park for lovers of riffs and stories," according to its creators. ARTE describes the experience as a playground "at the crossroads of video games, collective experience, musical culture, and the metal scene," where each player "participates in writing a legend set to the rhythm of metal."
ARTE Riff Mountain draws on the codes of adventure games and festivals to offer an interactive exploration. The island of "Riff Mountain" is home to challenges, puzzles, and clan mechanics. Participants must collect decibels, the fuel that powers the metal machine, to advance the story and unlock hidden areas. Four clans will compete to defend their visions and styles, set to original music composed by Saïf Kechrid.
The experience stands out for its sophisticated artistic direction: Alexandre Astier and Florent Brillet designed the cinematics and environment, while Laura Le Goff directed the motion capture. The visual universe combines references to Hellfest, metal symbols, and a post-apocalyptic atmosphere.
This experience is primarily aimed at metal fans, gamers curious about alternative culture, and festival-goers. It is part ofARTE's ongoing series of immersive cultural projects that seek to bring together music, fiction, and digital technology. Players familiar with Fortnite will find the game mechanics accessible and designed for the general public, while enjoying unique artistic and cultural content.
However, ARTE Riff Mountain may not be suitable for players looking for classic competition or performance-oriented gameplay. The project focuses primarily on discovery, narrative exploration, and collective participation rather than combat or individual victory.
According to the schedule released by ARTE, early access is planned for fall 2025, coinciding with the announcement of the Hellfest 2026 lineup around November 10. The full experience will then be available in June 2026 to accompany the festival.
ARTE Riff Mountain illustrates the channel's desire to push the boundaries between media by integrating musical culture into a popular digital environment. With this creation, the Franco-German channel is exploring a hybrid format between video games, visual art, and live events, paving the way for new forms of cultural expression on interactive platforms.
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Dates and Opening Time
From June 18, 2026 to June 21, 2026
