Fortnite Nerfs Lethal Fall Damage in Big Gameplay Shakeup as Overwatch Update Arrives

The large Fortnite Overwatch update is here, bringing Tracer, Genji and the pack to Epic Games' conflict royale Island. But the changes lone statesman determination — with a large shakeup to gameplay, successful Zero Build mode successful particular.

Across Fortnite's main conflict royale mode, autumn harm has been made truthful it is nary longer lethal — players alternatively "splat" onto the ground, and retrieve with 1HP. Time for immoderate bandages!

Battle royale's Zero Build option, meanwhile, has been wholly overhauled with yet much changes, specified arsenic the summation of an unlimited usage "Pocket Item" randomly assigned astatine the opening of matches. These items tin see Shockwave Grenades, Medmist oregon Shield Bubbles.

Glider redeploy is backmost erstwhile you're leaping disconnected precocious areas, and you tin present chopped your glider adjacent the crushed for a headstart (at the outgo of perchance taking immoderate autumn damage). Equipping your pickaxe present provides unlimited stamina, meanwhile, and eliminations assistance overshield — encouraging much assertive play.

Balancing that is simply a boost to biology screen spot (walls, crates and truthful distant volition present withstand much fire), portion Reboot Van timers person been reduced truthful you tin bring the squad backmost successful much quickly.

Alongside Overwatch locations added to the game's representation (Hanamura! King's Row! Busan Drum Pavilion!), fans look to beryllium particularly having amusive with Tracer's pulse pistols, which determination Fortnite's third-person enactment afloat first-person and fto you blink and rewind time. It's surely 1 of the champion crossover collaboration items successful immoderate time.

New Fortnite Overwatch update is INSANE! 😲 #Fortnite pic.twitter.com/jRgdddAhZv

Fortnite has had a unsmooth commencement to 2026, with large layoffs backmost successful March pursuing a downturn successful involvement successful Epic Games' evergreen conflict royale shooter. Analysts told IGN that less radical playing the game's seasoned conflict royale was lone 1 of its problems, however, pursuing the clip and wealth spent implicit the past fewer years warring costly ineligible battles with Apple and Google, portion bankrolling the Epic Games Store arsenic it attempts to rival Steam. And past there's the explosive maturation of Roblox, which dwarfs the engagement seen by Fortnite's ain creator-made modes.

Still, large updates similar this amusement that Epic Games tin inactive impressment fans with different acceptable of improvements and changes. Fortnite lore fans besides get much to chew implicit this update arsenic well, with confirmation connected the destiny of The Paradigm (the quality antecedently voiced by Brie Larson), different fan-favorite quality acceptable to return, and a beauteous large hint astatine who is pulling the Dark Voyager's strings...

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social