300 The Weeknd flash mobsters serenade Times Square for Fortnite festival

In a dazzling display that could make Broadway blush, The Weeknd's disciples, 300 strong and decked out in After Hours chic, commandeered Times Square's red TKTS staircase for an impromptu Fortnite Festival fiesta.

Times Square became the stage for The Weeknd enthusiasts as 300 flash mobbers, dressed in homage to the artist's After Hours era, converged on the iconic red TKTS staircase. 

a bunch of abel’s in times square omg😭 pic.twitter.com/RcJJ7xgQ6O

— layla ﾒ𝟶 (@abelsstuff) December 9, 2023

The lively gathering was in celebration of the Fortnite Festival, a groundbreaking multi-platform music game that had officially launched on December 9. 

The game, developed by Harmonix, the creators of Rock Band, allows players to either join forces with friends in a virtual band or take center stage as a solo artist, performing chart-topping hits by their favorite musicians.

First look at The Weeknd in Fortnite 😎pic.twitter.com/6HbdB2u5Vv

— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) December 7, 2023

The Weeknd, crowned the festival's inaugural headline act, not only graced the game's trailer but orchestrated a Times Square takeover. 

• The flash mobbers, donning Weeknd-worthy in-game skins, grooved to the infectious beats of "Blinding Lights," turning the iconic New York spot into their own personal dance floor.

Times Square 💧 Fortnite Festival pic.twitter.com/1YEN1Jjdwv

— The Weeknd News (@NewsWeeknd) December 10, 2023

• A crowd of 15,000 joined the impromptu soirée, trading in their Broadway dreams for a night of pixelated pop magic.

The Weeknd x Fortnite 🎭🎮

📍Times Square pic.twitter.com/ION1HPcLm4

— The Weeknd News (@NewsWeeknd) December 10, 2023

Fortnite Festival has already established itself as a platform for musical innovation, having previously hosted in-game concerts featuring renowned artists like Travis Scott and Eminem. 

We’ve taped the launch setlist to your amp, so you can prepare for the Festival 😎

These sweet Jam Tracks will be on rotation starting in just three more days, so study up! pic.twitter.com/gYJc8jzfLN

— Fortnite Festival (@FNFestival) December 6, 2023

• The game offers a unique rhythmic gameplay experience, allowing users to choose their instrument—be it guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, or vocals—and jam to an extensive library of licensed global hits spanning various genres and decades.

The Weeknd's performance in Fortnite served as a captivating addition to his already stellar year. 

• His Spotify streaming statistics for 2023 revealed staggering numbers, with 12.8 billion streams and an audience of 285.2 million fans who collectively spent 721.7 million hours listening to his music. 
• His After Hours Till Dawn tour achieved remarkable success, breaking records and grossing $158.1 million across 30 shows during the European leg.