As Fortnite‘s numbers begin to rise to record-breaking levels, developer Epic Games is keeping an eye on what is coming up in the game’s future. In an extensive blog post, Epic revealed that Fortnite gamers across all platforms can expect major improvements — most notably a 60 FPS mode for all consoles, new items, fixed sound design, and new modes.
The most noteworthy comment in the news in the extensive blog post is that Fortnite will have a 60 FPS mode for all home consoles — whether you play on a base PlayStation 4 or the top-of-the-line Xbox One X. While Epic is far from confirming “60 FPS” specifically, the new mode will be “tuned for each console to maximize frame rate while minimizing loss of visual quality.” Even better, Fortnite gamers can expect the update to come before March.
Outside of technical achievements, Epic was proud to boast on some of the new art changes that they are making this year — including new gliders and pick-axes. Seen in the gallery below, some of these concepts seem festively tuned for Chinese New Year, while others are perhaps capitalizing on the recently-renewed interest in space travel. Oh, and the party animal pickaxe:
But that isn’t to say that items are limited to art variations — according to the development team, they are still prototyping new weapons and consumables. However, in the meantime, SMG’s are going to be tabled beginning next week, a choice made to free up gameplay options for other weapons. The SMG reportedly “may or may not return.”
Weapons are only one way to substantively affect gameplay, but game modes — especially Limited Time Modes — are arguably more interesting. Limited Time Modes (including the 50v50 mode that was introduced at The Game Awards) offer unique ways to play the game and perhaps changes to permanent mode. In that vein, Epic is looking to try the following different modes in “the next month or so”:
- Blitz Mode (shorter matches!)
- Drop into the first circle
- Generally less time between circles
- Team sizes in between 50v50 and squads
- 50v50 v2
- Closer to the 50v50 Trailer experience
- Split to start
- Converge on Battle
- Bus for each team
- See all your squadmates on the map
- More supply drops
And perhaps even better than Limited Time Modes, Epic Games is working to try out private, Custom Matches that still seem further off.
Last but not least — especially with the larger Fortnite community — is an update on sound balance. In the past month, this has generated the occasional concern given that the sound varied between being far too quiet to hear footsteps or so loud that building and gunfire made it impossible to communicate. The brand new audio design will gamers a better understanding where enemies are coming from in relation to you.
As mentioned previously, it is no wonder that Fortnite is being so pro-actively focused on as the game competes with PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds for market share of the battle royale genre. Epic Games is so motivated by the project that they have turned from long-term products like Pargaon as they continue developing Fortnite.
Fortnite is available now as a free-to-play game for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Check out the new art assets below:
