For the average person, hearing the word Fortnite can trigger a few thoughts, from late 2010s nostalgia to a culture-shaping video game. However, one usually does not associate the famed battle royale with racing, music, or Legos. Yet, that image is what its developer, Epic Games, has provided with its new chapter of the game, which launched with the Big Bang event on December 2. Released in the new update are the racing game mode, Rocket Racing, the musical rhythm game, Fortnite Festival, and Minecraft-reminiscent Lego creative game, aptly named Lego Fortnite. All of these have refreshed Fortnite and given players more ways to play the game.
The first new game mode to release, Lego Fortnite brings creative elements to a traditionally combat-based video game. It uses an open world to create a sandbox environment. Players can play survival or creative mode using Lego pieces. While the mode is similar to the popular game Minecraft, there are a few key differences, including the lack of terrain control and detail customization in buildings. However, Lego Fortnite includes templates for many styles of builds. All these aspects have proven wildly popular, as Dot Esports reports that 2.4 million players tried Lego Fortnite on its start date, over triple the amount of Battle Royale players. Overall, this game mode shakes up Fortnite with new creative elements and collaborative potential, giving players a well-rounded alternative to the traditional fighting-centered modes.
On the next day, Rocket Racing brought fast-paced competitive racing to Fortnite. In the game mode, players use Rocket League cars to contest for first place on a variety of tracks. The mechanics and gameplay are synonymous with the less well-known Hot Wheels Unleashed game. Rocket Racing uses a ranking system similar to Fortnite’s Ranked Battle Royale, which sorts players into skill categories for better matchmaking. Or, racers can practice privately or in an unranked match. The races are speedy and unpredictable, and the top 3 places could change at any moment. Gameplay depends heavily on the type of track but can include wall-jumping, sharp corners, and jumps in the road. It also includes difficult drifting and the boost ability, which requires extra skill and is similar to games like Need For Speed.Finally, on Saturday, Fortnite Festival dropped. On the Main Stage, players pick a role in a “band”: lead, bass, vocals, or drums. They then play their part in the song by pressing the right buttons at the right time. This game mode can be played with friends, with random online players, or solo. The music lineup includes songs like “Gangnam Style” by PSY, “Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo, “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd, “i” by Kendrick Lamar, and much more. Songs can be bought to play as “Jam Tracks,” or players can wait for a rotation of featured music so they can play them for free. All in all, Fortnite Festival brings new rhythm-based gameplay to the game and gives players yet another playstyle option.
Fortnite Chapter 5 has begun and includes three new game modes: Fortnite Festival, Rocket Racing, and Lego Fortnite. While the quality of these is up for debate, what isn’t is the fact that they all brought new mechanics, gameplay, and options for Fortnite players. Now, Fortnite can be associated with not only 2017 and expensive cosmetics, but also music, racing, and Legos.
