Skip to main content

Fortnite adds mechs to Battle Royale, and competitive players are not happy

 

The new season of Fortnite has officially launched, and the battle royale mode has received a mech vehicle that’s sure to cause headaches for unsuspecting players. Not only will you have to deal with the driver, but also a passenger armed with powerful missiles.

Recommended Videos

First off, what Epic Games is dubbing “the B.R.U.T.E. vehicle” is available in battle royale mode. The driver controls the movement of the vehicle, while the passenger is responsible for taking out targets using a missile launcher and shotgun. It’s designed for two people to use simultaneously, but you can also operate it on your own if you’re comfortable swapping between the two positions on the fly. The missile launcher is particularly devastating, shooting a salvo of 10 missiles at once, and you can use an overshield to temporarily protect against incoming attacks.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

As the driver, you actually aren’t completely defenseless, though. You can step on enemies and structures below you, instantly harvesting materials from things you destroy. You can also use a dash maneuver and a “super jump,” so you won’t be a sitting duck for players hoping to get a few easy explosive kills.

Fortnite - Season X Overview Trailer

The mech has already been met with its detractors, however, who have called the suit overpowered and believe it threatens the balance of the game. Reddit threads have popped up, bemoaning the decision to include both the shotgun and the missile launcher, and for offering the vehicle in competitive modes. Knowing Epic Games, changes could come quickly to appease those who are upset, perhaps at least in terms of removing them from competitive play. Others even suggested only putting it in a limited-time mode.

Several weapons have been vaulted for Season X, as well. These include the Baller, Quad Crasher, Flint Knock Pistol, Shadow Bomb, Semi-Auto Sniper, Tactical Assault Rifle, Mounted Turret, and Air Strike. We certainly hope you weren’t relying on one or two of those to carry yourself to victory.

The fabric of space and time itself has also been disrupted on the island. New “Rift Zones” are available, offering access to areas that were previously lost. Epic Games hinted that the world could continue to change by the day, so you are encouraged to play continuously in order to see everything that’s hidden.

Season X includes more than 100 rewards in its Battle Pass, which still costs 950 V-Bucks. Once you reach the 100 tier, you will get the Ultimate Knight Outfit, and Epic Games is also giving you the ability to gift the Battle Pass to a friend until August 15. You’ll need a good teammate to use the B.R.U.T.E. effectively, after all!

Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
How to use Double Pump in Fortnite OG
Fortnite Double Pump Shotguns

With the introduction of the new OG mode, Fortnite has brought back the traditional Battle Royale gameplay. This mode returns players to the island they were on during the first season of Chapter 1. Not only has the island been brought back but the original art style, loot pool, weapon sounds, and even some of the original techniques that players use to win the coveted Victory Royale battle also returned.

One of the most well-known broken tricks that gave rise to a powerful meta in the early days of Fortnite was the Double Pump. Despite the fact that the game still allows you to Rocket Ride your buddies toward an adversary and perform one-shot sniper kills, the most popular option remains the OG Double Pump.

Read more
How to get free skins in Fortnite (December 2024)
Fortnite Chord Kahele skin

Fortnite cosmetics are always a hot sell in the gaming community due to their rarity, value in V-Bucks, and unique designs. Among those, skins are the most popular cosmetic item in the game, and some players even spend a fortune purchasing almost every Item Shop outfit.

However, some players who like the free-to-play aspect of the game rely on free rewards in the Battle Pass or through quests and events that Epic releases from time to time. But it's quite rare that Fortnite gives out a free skin to its player base, let alone multiple outfits in a single go, but that is exactly what is available for players right now.

Read more
The best weapons in Fortnite OG: Chapter 1, Season 1 tier list
Fortnite OG weapons

Fortnite has launched its much-awaited OG mode that takes players back to the Chapter 1, Season 1 island, where it all began. The mode brings back the OG art style and gameplay, but with modern UI and movement mechanics found in Fortnite.

But one thing, whether you're playing the OG mode or the newest Chapter 6 Battle Royale, remains the same, and that is needing to arm yourself with the best weapons to secure the victory royale. While there are a lot of strategies around Fortnite you must know to get better at the game, the most important is your knowledge of the loot pool.

Read more