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'Fortnite' ends Halloween event with an in-game bang
When Epic said it was going to end its Fortnitemares Halloween event in spectacular fashion with a one-time occurrence, it wasn't kidding around. If you happened to be in Fortnite at 1PM Eastern on November 4th, you saw the mysterious cube on the map not only explode, but trigger an in-game cutscene that left players floating in a mysterious void reminiscent of Rez, right down to the butterflies. It's rare that you see a cutscene like this in the middle of a competitive multiplayer game, especially one with upwards of 100 people.
Nerf's first ‘Fortnite’-inspired gun is the AR-L Blaster
Last month, Hasbro and Epic Games announced that some Fortnite-themed Nerf guns were on the way. And now we have a model and a release date. The first Nerf gun from the line is the Fortnite AR-L Blaster, and it features rapid-fire motorized blasting and flip-up sights. It also comes with a 10-dart clip and 20 Elite darts.
Fox Sports’ new virtual studio runs on Unreal Engine
It's no secret that Epic Games has enabled a number of gaming studios to create more-realistic visuals with its Unreal game engine. Since its debut in 1998, powering the first-person shooter Unreal, the technology has evolved to power hundreds of games, from Fortnite to Street Fighter V, and with that process, the virtual has become increasingly more realistic. Now in its fourth iteration, Unreal Engine is no longer exclusively being used for gaming, as other industries have taken notice of the possibilities. Unreal Engine 4 has become a key element for film and television in recent years, and Fox Sports is using it to power its new, completely virtual studio set. "Virtual sets have been around for quite some time, and we've done our fair share of using them," Zac Fields said. "But it's always been a struggle to give that sense of photo realism." Fields oversees Fox Sports' Graphic Technology and Integration department, which includes the addition of new gear during a studio build. He said the team started thinking about the idea of a virtual set about two years ago. Around 15 months ago, the network started getting staff familiar with the software and began tests. Then last winter, the broadcaster did a virtual show. Fields described this as a "full run-through" of a show on the virtual set that was built in Charlotte, North Carolina.
'Fortnite' creator Epic Games sues YouTuber for selling cheats
Epic Games is no stranger to suing Fortnite cheaters, but now it's aiming at a particularly high-profile target. The developer has filed a lawsuit against YouTube personality Brandon Lucas (aka "Golden Modz") and his frequent partner Colton Conter ("Excentric") for using and selling cheats. Lucas, who has over 1.7 million subscribers, allegedly violated the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, breached contract and engaged in "tortious interference" by posting videos of his Fortnite cheating and selling the cheat tools through his website. Conter sometimes participated in those videos.
‘Fortnite’ Android beta is now open to all
So far, if you've wanted to get your hands on the Fortnite Android beta, you've had to sign up for an invitation. But Epic Games has now opened the beta up to everyone, no invite required. Epic says it's best if your device is running Android 8.0 or later, otherwise you'll likely run into performance issues. As for which phone you'll need, you can check out a list of supported devices here. It includes Google's Pixel line, the Essential Phone, the Razer Phone and a number of others. Head here to get access to the beta.
The creators of 'Fortnite' just bought an anti-cheating company
Epic Games has acquired Kamu, a Helsinki-based company whose offerings include game security, game telemetry and game management services. Epic has already been using Kamu's services with Fortnite, and CEO Tim Sweeney said working with Kamu has "been key to building a vibrant Fortnite multiplayer experience that's fair for all players." Going forward, the acquisition will allow Epic to establish a presence in Helsinki, and Kamu will continue to support its customers.
'Fortnite' will reward creators when you buy in-game items
Epic has a clever way to encourage more Fortnite videos: pay them whenever some buys in-game gear. It's launching a Support-A-Creator Event that sends real money to producers on services like Twitch and YouTube when gamers make purchases with V-Bucks. Between the week of October 8th and the end of 2018, you only have to enter the name of a creator in Fortnite's shop to reward them the next time you buy a costume or glider. Each commitment lasts two weeks, but you can change your preferences whenever you'd like.
'Fortnite' season six arrives with invisibility and pets
It feels like we had to wait forever, but it's finally here: Fortnite season six has begun. As is customary with any new competitive window, tonnes of new content has landed, but it's also time to say goodbye to items and locations you may have come to love (or really really hate). The theme for season six is "Darkness Rises," turning the island shadowy thanks to the otherworldly powers exhibited by "The Cube."
Sony finally gives in to ‘Fortnite’ PS4 cross-play demands
PlayStation gamers have been frustrated by the lack of cross-platform support for the popular game Fortnite. But now Sony has some good news. Today, the company announced an open beta that will allow for Fortnite cross-platform play between the PlayStation 4 and iOS, Android, the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows and Mac.
'Fortnite' will add more audio cues to help you hunt rivals
Play enough Fortnite and you'll know that audio cues can make all the difference -- footsteps are your cue to get ready for a fight (or, let's be honest, run for the hills). To that end, Epic has offered a sneak peek at the development and testing of Season 6 spatial audio updates that could save your hide. It wants higher-frequency, higher-contrast footsteps that help you pinpoint someone's location, and better spatial audio cues for gliders. It also wants to provide more sounds for in-air movement that doesn't involve a glider, such as falling or launching off a Bouncer pad.
One of the most powerful 'Fortnite' guns is no more
It's the end of an era in Fortnite... not that some players will necessarily mind. As part of a relatively minor update, Epic Games has quietly "vaulted" (that is, retired) the Drum Gun. While the weapon has only been available since July, it caused no small amount of havoc when it premiered. Its 50-round capacity and high rate of fire meant that you could not only take out multiple opponents (certainly unshielded ones) with a single magazine, for starters. It could also create misery for anyone building a structure, since you could easily unload on someone's wall and still have ammo to finish off your opponent. And did we mention it was relatively easy to find?
Nerf adds 'Fortnite' blasters to its foam arsenal
Blizzard made waves earlier this year when it announced Nerf guns were coming based on those found in its colorful hero shooter Overwatch, but that's not the only game getting licensed foam blasters. Today, Hasbro and Epic Games announced that Fortnite-themed Nerf guns are coming, too.
In 'Fortnite' Monopoly, Tilted Towers is the new Boardwalk
How do you get Fortnite-obsessed kids to play an old-school board game? By putting Fortnite in the board game, of course. Epic and Hasbro have revealed a Fortnite version of Monopoly that replaces the usual property trading with elements from the battle royale shooter. Island locations replace buildings (popular drop point Tilted Towers is the new Boardwalk), while health points replace money. Don't just call it a cosmetic change, though -- there are genuine changes to the game mechanics.
The latest limited-time 'Fortnite' game mode is a daring jewel heist
Epic has another high-profile Fortnite mode on the way, but this one won't involve a gauntlet-wielding supervillain. It's launching a themed "High Stakes" event on September 5th, and the star of the show is a limited-time The Getaway mode that has squads swiping a jewel from one of four safes around the island and bringing it to an escape van. The event also brings loads of purchasable cosmetics, including male and female skins with card-themed masks, a money-laden glider and a trail of bills when you drop.
Initial 'Fortnite' Android installer let hackers install malware
When Epic said it would skip the Google Play Store with Fortnite's Android release, it raised eyebrows among security experts. Wasn't it creating risks by encouraging gamers (some of whom didn't understand the potential dangers) to install non-Store apps? Well, it did... although not quite in the way you might have expected. Epic Games has patched a Google-discovered vulnerability in Fortnite's original Android installer that would have let intruders download and install malware. The exploit used a man-in-the-disk attack that took advantage of Epic's initially flawed storage handling to intercept download requests and load nefarious content.
'Fortnite' will introduce a 'robust competition system' in the fall
There have certainly been Fortnite competitions, but you can't really say that it's designed for competition -- and that's a problem when Epic is spending big money on tournaments. You won't have to wait too long to see a mode, however. Epic Games is developing a "robust competition system" that will have players square off against each other within the same match, and "be recognized for their accomplishments." It didn't say how this system would work (a ladder, perhaps?), but it would arrive sometime later in the fall.
Epic uses a free 'Fortnite' dance to encourage two-factor authentication
As Fortnite's popularity has grown, player's accounts have become targets for attackers who want to steal access and run up fake charges. One way to combat this is by enabling two-factor authentication that requires a generated code or emailed link for login in addition to the user's password, but as we've seen on other services, not everyone turns it on. Epic Games has a solution though, by offering a free emote to players who enable two-factor on their accounts.
'Fortnite' Android beta invitations open to non-Samsung devices
Samsung's Fortnite mini exclusive didn't last quite as long as expected. The 9to5Google team has noticed that, as promised, you can both sign up for an invitation and pre-install the beta directly through Epic's website. You'll still have to wait for Epic to let you in, but you'll be ready to play the battle royale shooter as soon as that golden message reaches your inbox.
'Fortnite' update adds explosives-only mode, revives guided missiles
As promised, Fortnite has its guided missile back... plus something extra. Epic has released a 5.10 update that reintroduces the missile in a toned-down version (that is, slower and less powerful), but also introduces a limited time Fly Explosives mode to spice things up. You can only find explosive weapons in this mode -- the key to survival is finding jetpacks, which have been tweaked to keep you in the air for longer. If you're not raining death from above, you probably won't last long.
'Fortnite' will bring back guided missiles in a softer, gentler form
Fortnite's guided missile certainly had its moments, but Epic dropped it with an April patch for a reason -- it was so powerful (and ammo so plentiful) that you could make life a living hell for anyone who wasn't an immediate threat. Flash forward a few months and Epic is ready to bring the weapon back... albeit not as you knew it. Epic has revealed in a developer update,that the guided missile will come back to battle royale mode, but that it's now meant as more of a "scouting tool" than a game-deciding weapon.
