Fortnite adds The Big Lebowski character skin for Summer Splash event

Hit battle royale game is also adding a host of new modes

An apparent tribute to Jeff Bridges’ character from The Big Lebowski has been spotted in the hit battle royale video game Fortnite.

The new character skin carries plenty of visual nods to Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski from the Coen brothers’ 1998 comedy, such as a beard, exposed gut, sunglasses and almost identical clothing. The addition comes as part of a Summer Splash event, which will run from today until the end of Fortnite‘s chapter two, season three.

A collection of limited-time game modes, including past favourites and new inventions, will also run as part of the event.

Returning modes include Sneaky Silencers/Fog of War, Close Encounters (in which players are given shotguns and jetpacks), Unvaulted (in which players can use old weapons and items that have been removed from the main game) and Catch! (in which players can only use throwable weapons).

Developers Epic Games have not yet revealed the details of the new limited-time game modes that are being added.

In the past, Fortnite has teamed up with film franchises and media properties for promotional crossover events, including Birds of Prey, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker and Deadpool.

In The Big Lebowski, Bridges’ character is a laid-back stoner who becomes embroiled in a surreal kidnapping conspiracy.

Bridges teased last year that he would be making a return to the character, only to appear in a beer advertisement which aired during the Super Bowl.

One of the new 'Fortnite' character skins bears a resemblance to Jeff Bridge's famous slacker (Universal Pictures/Epic Games)

A spin-off “sequel” focusing on John Turturro’s minor character Jesus Quintana, entitled The Jesus Rolls, was released earlier this year, without any involvement from the Coens.