Summary
A recent interview from Epic Games' CEO Tim Sweeney suggests thatFortnitemay have initially planned to feature 200-player matches for its main gameplay. The massively popular battle royale has seen a plethora of new updates and mechanics added to the game throughout the seven years since its initial launch in 2017. Epic Games has debuted several new weapons and mechanics throughout its many events, withcrossovers often adding unique weapons to Fortnite. However, new information from an Epic exec reveals that the main gameplay could have looked vastly different.
WhileFortnite’s main gameplay has typically stuck to the 100-man gameplay, Epic Games has often toyed around with different ways to play the game.Fortnite’s “Reload” game mode, introduced last month, shrinks the size of a lobby, featuring 40 players duking it out with a faster gameplay style. Epic Games also debuted “Zero Build” mode as a new way to play in 2022, removing the game’s building mechanic and putting a heavier focus onFortnite’s gunplay. Now, the CEO of Epic Games is sharing more details about a scrapped version of the game.
Epic Games CEO Reveals Fortnite Originally Tested 200-Man Lobbies
As reported by ComicBook, Epic Games' Tim Sweeney shared more details about an older version ofFortnitethat was scrapped before the game’s release. Sweeney claimed thatFortnitewas originally testing lobbies that would allow for 200 players in a single match before the battle royale fully launched. According to Sweeney, the main reason for scrapping the potential 200-man matches was due to the strain the sizable matches put on the game’s servers, with Epic’s servers buckling under the immense load.The Epic Games CEOdid not confirm how long before launch the larger matches were scrapped.
While Sweeney stressed thatFortnitewas not capable of 200-player lobbies at the time, he shared more details aboutFortnite’s development process. Sweeney detailed the reasoning forseparatingFortnite’s content into multiple different islands, with Epic’s servers not able to properly support all the islands as a massive open world. Sweeney’s phrasing also suggested that Epic Games' present-day servers may be able to support 200-player matches, though Epic Games has not confirmed any details for the game mode.
ThoughFortnite’s 200-man matches may never see the light of day, the battle royale’s crossovers continue to add new content.Fortniterecently debuted itsPirates of the Caribbeancrossover, adding multiple skins based on characters like Jack Sparrow and Captain Barbossa. TheFortnitecrossover also added several new items to the game, including the “Ship in a Bottle” and “Pirate Cannon” among others. Though 200-man matches may not be in the picture,Fortnite’s many collaborations continue to bring new experiences to the beloved battle royale.
Fortnite
WHERE TO PLAY
Create, play, and battle with friends for free in Fortnite. Be the last player standing in Battle Royale and Zero Build, experience a concert or live event, or discover over a million creator made games, including racing, parkour, zombie survival, and more. Each Fortnite island has an individual age rating so you can find the one that’s right for you and your friends.Explore large, destructible environments where no two games are ever the same. Team up with friends by sprinting, climbing and smashing your way to earn your Victory Royale, whether you choose to build up in Fortnite Battle Royale or go no-builds in Fortnite Zero Build.Discover even more ways to play across thousands of creator-made game genres: adventure, roleplay, survival and more. Or, band together with up to three friends to fend off hordes of monsters in Save the World.
