You are currently viewing Everything Wrong With Fortnite in 2020

Everything Wrong With Fortnite in 2020

Fortnite

Fortnite is still easily one of the most popular games in the world. However, as we all learned from the Breakfast Club, popular doesn’t mean perfect.

Make no mistake that Fortnite is suffering from quite a few problems at the moment. From the effects of increased competition to the growing impact of issues that have existed for too long, Fortnite is in a bit of a strange spot despite the success that the game continues to enjoy.

For a better idea of what is happening with Fortnite, join us as we look at (almost) everything wrong with Fortnite in 2020.

Too Many Events

This particular complaint is a double-edged sword. After all, Fortnite‘s events are a big part of the reason it became such a mainstream success. They’re also almost assuredly a tremendous moneymaker for developer Epic to this day.

Yet, Fortnite‘s events just lack the luster they once offered. There was a time when the idea of playing as Thor in Fortnite was enough to attract the attention of millions. Yet, sometime around the Batman event and the Star Wars tie-in, Fortnite events became far more predictable, arguably less substantial, and little more than a temporary amusement which would often harm the core game if they happened to feature overpowered weapon additions.

There are just times when it feels like Fortnite exists to host the next tie-in event. If our feelings regarding how profitable these events are is accurate, then that’s probably not far from the truth.

Too Much Downtime

Gameplay-wise, you could certainly argue that this is Fortnite‘s biggest problem at the moment.

In a game like Call of Duty Warzone, the action happens far more often. While some of that increase in activity can be attributed to things like Warzone‘s increased player count in squads mode, it also benefits from more intelligent design concepts. For instance, Call of Duty Warzone‘s cash system gives you something to always work towards during slower moments while its Gulag system means you get a clean shot to rejoin the fight even after death.

The fact of the matter is that Fortnite used to distinguish itself from other battle royales due to its pace. Now, things just feel a bit too slow.

A Failed “Reset”

Not long ago, Fortnite teased an event called “The End.” Millions watched as the Fortnite map was swallowed by a black hole and the game was seemingly deleted. It was an incredible occurrence that convinced many that the game would never be the same again.

It turns out they were right but for the wrong reasons. Fortnite‘s reset amounted to some map changes, a few new mechanics, and some item swaps, but not much more. What should have been a chance to make Fortnite feel fresh again instead became an excuse to check out some of the competition.

Fortnite’s “The End” event wasn’t meant to be literal, but it was a significant misstep for a game that hadn’t made many before then.

The Mechanics Remain Too Loose and Too Complicated

While some of Fortnite‘s problems could be fixed or eliminated via patches, this is one issue that can’t easily be corrected because it’s become a core element of the Fortnite experience.

There was a time when Fortnite‘s arcadey gameplay was a bit of an anomaly. As a battle royale that emphasized fast movements and crafting, it stood in welcome contrast to more tactical games. Now, though, titles like Warzone and Apex Legends have incorporated the relative speed of Fortnite while dropping some of the game’s clunkier crafting mechanics.

What you have now is a situation where some long-time Fortnite players have started to become frustrated by the game’s imprecise elements and occasional reliance on cheap mechanics. Beginners, meanwhile, now have a suite of other games to turn to that aren’t nearly as tactical as early battle royale games and feel more natural than Fortnite‘s occasionally confounding combination of mechanics.

Epic’s War With Apple Doesn’t Help the Game

In case you haven’t heard, Epic recently went to “war” with Apple over the tech giant’s close ecosystem and transaction fees. Epic hopes to loosen the sometimes monopolistic grip that Apple has over the iOS ecosystem. If they’re successful, it could be a big win for developers big and small everywhere.

However, none fo that helps Fortnite fans who now can’t access an updated version of the app via iOS or the Google Play Store. They also have to contend with Epic’s increasing number of in-game shots at Apple which are often disguised as events.

At a time when Fortnite could use some love and attention, Epic feels more distracted than ever before.

Matthew Byrd

Matthew Byrd covers the gaming industry including indies, consoles, PCs, iOS and Android apps, as well as topics related to entertainment and technology.