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Galaxy Note 9 might be the first place you play ‘Fortnite’ on Android
The world's biggest game could be exclusive to Samsung's Galaxy Note 9. Both 9to5Google and XDA Developers have independent sources claiming that Fortnite will be a 30-day exclusive to Samsung's upcoming phablet, with other Android devices getting it later. XDA Developers even goes so far as to say the phone's launch video will be based around developer Epic Games' free-to-play shooter, and that the game will come pre-installed on the handset. There are rumors that the new Bluetooth Smart S Pen will be integrated into play somehow. A certain blue-haired streamer might even be involved. Oh, and if you're a Samsung DeX fan, this will apparently work with that too.
Epic quickly nerfs the new 'Fortnite' SMG after complaints
The v5.10 Fortnite update that brought back our beloved Playground mode also added something else -- this new gun. Unfortunately, the "high capacity, fast firing Compact SMG" was just a little too overpowered, and many high-profile players quickly complained that it made the game a race to get the SMG so one could chew through their enemies (and their buildings, as the starting and max health of many materials dropped at the same time). While Epic has been up front about wanting to make the endgame more exciting and less focused on build-offs as it pushes for esports viability, this particular tweak may have gone too far. As a result, the company quickly lowered the accuracy, range and damage done by the new gun and existing SMGs. Check below for the (now-live) adjusted SMG values, and a few clips of the gun at work as it existed prior to the nerf.
'Fortnite' Playground mode returns on July 25th
Don't worry if you're still suffering from withdrawal symptoms while Epic retools Fortnite's Playground mode -- its return is just around the corner. The developer has confirmed that its sandbox-like option is coming back on July 25th, complete with the promised team selection options. You'll find more details in the notes for the upcoming 5.10 update.
‘Fortnite’ Funko Pop! toys will be here for the holidays
Fans of Funko's squat, wide-eyed Pop! figurines have a surprise headed their way: A line is incoming based on the popular game Fortnite. Epic Games has partnered with the toy company to release a smattering of figures, collectibles and apparel that should end up on store shelves by the holiday 2018 season.
Even the World Cup couldn't escape the 'Fortnite' fever
Now that England is out of the 2018 World Cup, there's one thing we're really going to miss about its team: The goal celebrations from midfielders Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard. While professional athletes creatively expressing themselves after scoring is nothing new, these guys stood out because their quirky moves were inspired by none other than Fortnite. Best of all, they did it at the world's biggest sporting event. Fortnite's mark on the World Cup in Russia is just the latest example of how inescapable the Epic Games' survival title is.
Epic gives Unreal Engine creators a larger cut of product sales
Epic Games announced today that it will be taking a smaller cut of sales made through its Unreal Engine Marketplace, where creators like digital artists, sound designers and programmers can sell products that game developers can use in their own projects. Going forward, creators will now get to keep 88 percent of their product sales as opposed to the 70 percent they were taking previously. Not only that, Epic Games will be applying this new split retroactively, so any sale made on the platform since it launched in 2014 will be subject to the new rate.
'Fortnite' season five adds a desert locale, golf carts and rifts
Fortnite players, the event you've been waiting for is finally here. Epic Games has officially kicked off the battle royale shooter's fifth season, offering a whole host of new locations, weapons, vehicles and mechanics. After teasing a historical theme at the end of Season 4, today's update delivers viking ships, sandy outposts (goodbye Moisty Mire), ancient statues and plenty of skins to do them justice.
The next big 'Fortnite' eSports event is an $8 million, 8-week tourney
Epic's Fortnite eSports initiatives are continuing beyond the recent Pro-Am charity tournament. The studio has unveiled a Summer Skirmish series that will hand out $8 million in prizes across eight weeks' worth of competitions, starting with a $250,000 Duos bout this weekend. Just don't expect to jump in -- Epic is choosing players who are either "community creators" (read: streamers) and skilled players, and it has already invited competitors for the first rounds of play. If there are open events, you'll have to wait.
'Fortnite' players are having too much fun with Playground mode
Fortnite's Playground mode might have been designed as a testing ground for newcomers, but that hasn't stopped players with irrepressible creative streaks from constructing things that are a little more niche. From Nintendo 64 monoliths and Mario Kart racing tracks to giant galleons, 8-bit Links and a gorgeous Loot Lake re-imagining, there's a plethora of inspiring content to behold.
'Fortnite' video contest asks gamers to make their own superhero movie
Consider yourself a budding director? Epic Games is inviting all Fortnite Battle Royale players to participate in an original filmmaking challenge. It involves using the Replay system to create a blockbuster-worthy highlights reel featuring Season 4's heroes, and promises a tempting line-up of rewards for successful applicants. Fortnite's 5th season might begin on July 12, but Epic's contest feels like a natural progression of Season 4's dancing challenge. In week 2, you might remember needing to ostentatiously swing your hips in front of cameras at different locations across the map. The rules are a bit more stringent this time around -- videos need to be between one and five minutes, use royalty free audio, and possess enough creativity and originality to capture Epic's attention -- but the bounty is handsome. Grand prize winners receive the honor of having their film screened at the meteoric Risky Reels drive-in. They also collect 25,000 V-Bucks and a poster of their film gets immortalized in the game. Epic is stretching its generosity out to five finalists who'll receive 10,000 V-Bucks as a consolation prize. If you think you've got what it takes, the Fortnite Blockbuster contest runs until July 11, 11:59PM ET. Epic said it'll announce the victors on July 24. For those who are more eSports-inclined, there's also the upcoming Fortnite competitions, which have an abundant tournament prize pool up for grabs.
That 'Fortnite' cheating app is probably hiding malware
Malware writers and scammers love to exploit demand for popular games to ensnare unwitting victims, and that's truer than ever for a near-ubiquitous game like Fortnite. Rainway has discovered malicious Windows adware hiding in a cheat that promised both an aimbot and free in-game V-Bucks. Install it and it immediately alters Windows to serve its own rogue ads, creating a man-in-the-middle attack (with Rainway as an unwitting participant) by loading its own root certificate and routing all internet traffic through a proxy.
'Fortnite' is hosting a mysterious live event this weekend
Fortnite's Playground might be on hold for now, but there will be something to captivate your attention in the near future. Epic Games has been teasing some kind of one-time event in the game's battle royale mode on June 30th at 1:30PM Eastern, with strange sounds from its supervillain stronghold (which holds a rocket) and countdowns on in-game TV screens signalling that something is happening. The developer has been quiet, but pro streamer Muselk has hinted that players will want to be in the vicinity of the rocket at the specified time to see "something big" -- many people suspect a rocket launch.
‘Fortnite’ Playground mode can’t come fast enough
When Epic Games announced that Fortnite was getting a sandbox for novice players to feel their way into the game, I was overjoyed. Playground is a dummy version of the map where four players can just noodle around for an hour at a time. Resource limits are relaxed, too, so you can just learn how the game plays, test strategies and get some all-important practice.
'PUBG' creators drop lawsuit over 'Fortnite' battle royale mode
If you were hoping PUBG Corp's lawsuit against Epic Games over Fortnite would be a knock-down drag-out fight to determine which battle royale game emerges triumphant... well, you'll be disappointed. The PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds developer has dropped the South Korean lawsuit, which alleged that Epic was imitating its interface and in-game items through Fortnite's Battle Royale mode. PUBG declined to explain the reason for the change of heart (we've asked Epic for comment), but there are a few potential candidates.
'Fortnite' gets a four-player Playground practice mode
Fortnite: Battle Royale is relentless and unforgiving, affording players no time before 99 other wannabe champions set their sights on each other. In fact, the fast-paced action is one of the biggest barriers for new players -- people rarely have time to get to grips with the game's building mechanics and varying weapon types before they're set upon. Epic Games previously teased that it would introduce a new way for players to practice away from the main island. Playground Mode has arrived as part of today's v4.5 update, giving players a much-needed way to hone their skills before taking them onto the battlefield.
'Fortnite' could partially lose the one thing that makes it unique
To build, or not to build? In 2011, Epic Games took a gamble on an unconventional survival shooter called Fortnite. The far-reaching maps and signature weaponry were all there in the main game, but a new breed of battle royale would shake up the genre's foundations by centering on construction mechanics. Perhaps unbeknownst to Epic at the time, that subtle innovation would pay off -- massively. Following the launch of its free battle royale mode last year, Fortnite has gone from fledgling beta to record-breaking cash cow. But right in the midst of its explosive popularity, Epic seems keen on shaking up the Fortnite formula again -- and top streamers aren't exactly thrilled.
The Weather Channel's mixed reality broadcasts debut tomorrow
In April, the Weather Channel announced that it would be incorporating immersive, mixed reality content into its broadcasts that will give viewers a realistic look at weather events. Well it's ready to debut that content and tomorrow morning, you'll be able to watch meteorologist Jim Cantore follow the development of a hyper-realistic tornado from its early stages all the way up to it becoming a destructive EF5 behemoth. Cantore will also share ways you can keep safe if faced with severe weather events.
'Fortnite' marks World Cup with stadium and goal scoring challenges
You didn't think Epic Games would let a sporting event as momentous as the World Cup go by without a Fortnite tie-in, did you? Sure enough, the developer has made a slew of updates to mark the beautiful game's most important tournament. There's now a hard-to-miss stadium map, and your weekly challenges now include scoring goals on fields across the island. And naturally, there's plenty of themed items to buy with your spare V-Bucks.
'Fortnite' on Switch still holds up against Xbox One X version
If you're a Fortnite gamer who wants to play on the go, you've got two options. Either deal with touchscreen interface on the title's mobile port, or grab the recently released Switch version of the multiplayer Battle Royale shooter. Regardless, you'll likely encounter some visual downgrades if you've been playing on a high-end console or PC. Digital Foundry has created a video to compare the differences between Fortnite on the Switch and the game on an Xbox One X to suss out what, exactly, that means.
Sony issues non-response to ‘Fortnite’ cross-play woes on Switch
Fortnite diehards would have been undoubtedly jubilant at the E3 announcement that the battle royale hit had come to Nintendo Switch. Its arrival was even blessed with the inclusion of native voice-chat. Yes, things were peachy until hopeful players tried logging into their Epic Games account on PlayStation 4, and realized they couldn't use their existing Epic accounts to access the game. Even though Sony wasn't directly involved in Fortnite's Switch launch, the company still had a say over how the game could be played.
