Fortnite 41.20 brings Sidekick control rigs to UEFN

Epic’s Fortnite 41.20 update, published on July 16, 2026, adds the first wave of Control Rigs for Sidekicks in UEFN, giving creators a new way to animate companion-style NPCs with the same rig structures used internally at Epic. The release notes also mention scheduled fixes and the next publishing milestone for creature-based islands. Fortnite documentation Fortnite news hub

What changed in 41.20

• The first wave of Sidekick Control Rigs is now available in UEFN.
• Creators can animate Sidekicks using the same toolchain Epic uses internally.
• The update page also points to a July 23 publishing opening for creature-based games.

That makes 41.20 a practical workflow update rather than just a gameplay patch: it moves creator-made companion characters closer to the animation tools already used for Epic’s own content. For island builders, the immediate value is clearer customization and more believable Sidekick movement. Release notes

Why it matters for creators

• More flexible character animation pipelines for island NPCs.
• A stronger fit for islands built around pets, allies, or followers.
• Another sign Epic is steadily expanding UEFN’s character tooling.

Epic did not present this as a standalone feature launch; it sits inside a broader 41.20 ecosystem update that also references future publishing access for creature-based games. In other words, this is both a tooling release and a signal about where UEFN creation is heading next. Fortnite documentation