The Dodge Viper Is Back—Sort OfStellantisThe Dodge Viper GTS-R will be available as a car choice in the popular online gaming universes Fortnite and Rocket League now through July 12.The online games are played by millions around the world.Best part may be crashing it into other cars, but you decide.While Dodge may have ended production of the Viper almost 10 years ago, the mighty muscle car will live on for one week in two popular online games, Fortnite and Rocket League. The specific model will be the GTS-R, a race-bred supercar powered by an 8.0-liter V10 making up to 620 hp and weighing only 2,500 pounds. That's dangerous even on screen!"Bringing the Viper GTS‑R into Fortnite and Rocket League connects Dodge's performance heritage with a whole new generation of enthusiasts," said Matt McAlear, Dodge CEO. "The Dodge Viper is a legend, and the GTS‑R represents our racing DNA and heritage. Now, through these gaming communities, millions of players will experience Dodge and Viper performance in an entirely new, high-adrenaline environment."AdvertisementAdvertisementMillions were not experiencing it in the showroom, as sales dwindled to almost nothing by the time Dodge pulled the plug on the V10-powered supercar. That and the irritating presence of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 226, that required side curtain airbags the Viper couldn't meet.Viper in Rocket League, a pseudo soccer game played with cars instead of guys running around in shorts.StellantisBut don't look back and ask why, look ahead and ask, "What are Fortnite and Rocket League, anyway?"Fortnite is a massively popular online video game and virtual platform developed by Epic Games, first released in 2017, the same year Viper stopped production. It features multiple distinct game modes, ranging from a competitive 100-player battle royale to cooperative survival games and creative building sandboxes.In Fortnite you can find and drive everything from standard sedans and taxis to heavy-duty pickup trucks and sports cars, each with varying speeds and health pools, according to YouTuber FriendlyMachine.AdvertisementAdvertisement"Passengers can lean out the windows for drive-by shooting," FriendlyMachine enthuses. "You can also ram into opponents or structures, dealing damage and breaking through builds."The Viper would be one of the special limited-time and mythic vehicles sometimes introduced (like the DeLorean) that offer unique, overpowered perks, or easter eggs, according to YouTube Channel Slayyzie.This 2017 Snakeskin ACR Viper edition launched a decade ago.StellantisRocket League, meanwhile, is a popular, free-to-play vehicular soccer video game developed and published by Psyonix, according to various internet citations. Often described as "soccer with cars," the game challenges players to pilot rocket-powered vehicles to hit a giant ball into the opposing team's goal. Matches are highly skill-based and fast-paced, blending traditional sports strategy with acrobatic, physics-driven car mechanics.Sound like fun? Ask the nearest 12-year-old to sign you up.For a limited time only, through July 12, the Dodge Viper GTS‑R will be available in-game, as the kids say, with exclusive customization options and limited-time bundles available at launch.
