When National Videogame Museum announced a brand‑new activation for the October half‑term, families in Sheffield started marking their calendars.
From Saturday 25 October to Sunday 2 November 2024, visitors can step inside Castle House, on Angel Street, and dive into a week‑long celebration called LEGO Fortnite Odyssey. The event, billed as the ultimate "assemble your squad" experience, blends the tactile joy of building bricks with the fast‑paced world of Fortnite, all on a massive screen that makes the digital feel almost physical.
Background: The museum’s “Make It! Play It!” storyline
Since 1 August 2024, the museum has been running the Make It! Play It! exhibition, a three‑decade retrospective on LEGO’s foray into video gaming. The show showcases early titles like 1994’s LEGO Island, rare prototypes, and a rotating roster of playable consoles. During August, the museum even hosted a "LEGO Controller Make + Take" workshop where kids walked away with a custom‑built controller. That program wrapped up on 31 August, making room for the fresh, collaborative vibe of the October activation.
Director Iain Simons sees the half‑term event as a natural extension of the exhibition’s mission: "We want to show how physical play and digital worlds can coexist, and what better way than with LEGO and Fortnite side by side?" He added that the museum expects a spike in attendance from the surrounding counties—West Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire—because the half‑term is traditionally a high‑traffic period for family attractions.
What’s on the agenda? Activities that blend bricks and pixels
- Massive‑screen gameplay: A curated version of LEGO Fortnite Odyssey runs on a 12‑meter LED wall. Visitors can join pre‑set squads and battle in a colorful, block‑styled arena.
- Community brick village: Hundreds of LEGO bricks are spread across the exhibition floor. Guests add their own structures, gradually shaping a sprawling, collaborative city that mirrors the game’s map.
- Game‑inspired art stations: Sketchpads, coloured pencils, and digital tablets let children design their own Fortnite skins or recreate iconic in‑game moments with LEGO bricks.
- Take‑home crafts: Simple kits—think mini‑vault doors or pico‑guns—are assembled on site and can be packed away as souvenirs.
The museum stresses that all these experiences are included in the standard admission fee—no extra tickets or hidden costs. Admission prices for October haven’t been published yet, but the museum’s charity status (No. 1182057) means family rates stay affordable.
Industry partnership: LEGO meets Epic Games
The event is built on the LEGO Group–Epic Games collaboration that birthed LEGO Fortnite Odyssey earlier this year. While neither company is listed as a co‑organiser of the Sheffield activation, the partnership is evident in the branding, the gameplay, and the shared licensing that lets the museum showcase official Fortnite assets.
Industry analysts note that this crossover marks a broader trend: physical‑toy giants are seeking digital relevance, and game studios are hunting tangible touchpoints to deepen brand loyalty. The LEGO‑Fortnite blend is particularly clever because it taps into two massive youth demographics—brick collectors and battle‑royale gamers—while keeping the experience family‑friendly.
Visitor experience: Voices from the floor
On opening day, a seven‑year‑old named Maya shouted, "Look, my squad just built a fort!" Her mother, Sarah, added, "It’s the first time I’ve seen my kids switch from screens to actual bricks without missing a beat." Such comments echo a recurring theme in the museum’s visitor surveys: the event sparks spontaneous collaboration.
Local teacher James O’Leary, who brought a Year 4 class, said, "The hands‑on building reinforces teamwork lessons we cover in class, and the digital component keeps the kids engaged. It’s a perfect blend for a half‑term outing." The museum’s education officer, Hannah Clarke, confirmed that a short briefing will be given each morning to tie the activities back to STEAM learning objectives.
From a tourism standpoint, the Sheffield City Council’s visitor‑experience team estimates the event could bring an extra 3,000 footfall days to the city’s centre, translating to roughly £650,000 in local spend on food, transport, and retail. Those numbers are tentative, but they highlight the ripple effect of a well‑timed cultural program.
Looking ahead: What comes after the half‑term?
When the clock strikes midnight on 2 November, the LEGO Fortnite Odyssey set‑up will be dismantled, and the Make It! Play It! exhibition will revert to its standard layout. However, museum officials hint that future collaborations are already in the pipeline, possibly featuring other popular franchises like Minecraft or Star Wars.
For now, the focus remains on delivering a memorable, inclusive experience that convinces families that a museum visit can be as exciting as a theme‑park ride. As Iain Simons put it, "If we can turn a half‑term into a story kids tell their friends about for weeks, we’ve done our job."
Frequently Asked Questions
What dates and times is the LEGO Fortnite Odyssey event open?
The activation runs from Saturday 25 October 2024 at 10:00 am until Sunday 2 November 2024, closing each day at 5:30 pm. All days are open to the public during regular museum hours.
Is there an extra fee for the LEGO Fortnite activities?
No. The LEGO Fortnite Odyssey experiences are included in the standard admission price for the National Videogame Museum. No additional tickets or charges are required.
Are the activities suitable for all ages?
The event is aimed at families and school groups, with activities designed for children aged 5 years and up. Parents are encouraged to join in, especially for the collaborative brick‑building section.
How does the LEGO Fortnite Odyssey tie into the museum’s permanent exhibition?
It sits inside the Make It! Play It! exhibition, which explores three decades of LEGO video games. The half‑term activation adds a live, collaborative layer that illustrates how digital and physical play intersect.
What impact is the event expected to have on Sheffield’s local economy?
City officials estimate the event could generate roughly £650,000 in additional spend across restaurants, transport, and retail, thanks to the influx of families from South Yorkshire and neighbouring counties.
