Fortnite made the year truly momentous for gamers, with expansions pushing the boundaries of what we could expect. From the biggest game modes and a diverse partnership with Disney to the mysterious details of this collaboration, 2024 was unforgettable. Chapter 5, launched in December 2023, brought us Lego Fortnite, the lively Fortnite Festival, and adrenaline fueled Rocket Racing. Epic Games continued its streak of innovation with major modes like Reload in the summer and the nostalgic OG and action packed Ballistic earlier this month. There’s no denying, there’s been more Fortnite than ever this year.
While navigating the good, the bad, and the inevitable mistakes, Fortnite managed to deliver equal doses of triumphs and surprises. It’s fascinating to see how the game has evolved, becoming vastly different at the end of 2024 compared to its beginning. Personally, I found myself immersed in the everything this vibrant game had to offer whether it was the thrill of Reload or the quirky charm of Lego Fortnite. Reflecting on the good and bad this year, I can confidently say the journey has been worth it, filled with moments I’ll always cherish.
Table of Contents
Love: Epic created metaverse
Chapter 5 of Fortnite has been a rollercoaster of innovation, with exciting introductions like Lego Fortnite Odyssey, Brick Life, and Rocket Racing, alongside the dynamic Fortnite Festival, the action packed Fortnite Reload, and nostalgic modes like Fortnite OG and Fortnite Ballistic. While not all these modes were smash hits with Rocket Racing notably having flopped despite being fun the overall diversification has been a net positive. For casual players, the lack of a strong framework to keep them hooked might be a drawback, but as someone who enjoys varied fun, these updates have given me more reasons to dive in.
The way Epic has integrated new gameplay while letting us make the most of the cosmetics we’ve bought over the years is commendable. Personally, the ability to enjoy Epic’s innovations without worrying about wasting SSD space on the competition feels like a win for both me and the game. As someone in the “it’s time to settle down” phase, Fortnite’s growth ensures it remains a core part of my gaming lineup.
Hate: User created metaverse
The introduction of the Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) has been one of the boldest moves by Epic, offering content creators access to powerful tools to craft immersive worlds and engaging games within Fortnite Creative. Despite its potential, the charts remain dominated by repetitive boxfight and deathmatch maps, with little room for true innovation. Many prominent creators are either following trends or working on hire projects for third party corporations, limiting the growth of fresh ideas.
As someone who values the creative aspects of gaming, I have dabbled with UEFN myself. While Epic’s portion of the metaverse is “doing well,” I couldn’t help but notice that the rest of the experience isn’t quite “up to par.” The toolset is undeniably impressive, but its full potential remains untapped a sentiment I share with other gamers looking for more dynamic and innovative maps.
Love: Battle royale getting weird
Chapter 5 in battle royale was unusually divisive, thanks to the overpowered boss medallions that were first introduced in Season 1, the laser like Waterbending mythic in Season 2, the disproportional focus on vehicular combat in Season 3, and finally War Machine’s abominable jetpack in Season 4. The gimmicks in Chapter 5 were unusually intense and over the top, even by Fortnite standards, and I had a blast with all of them though I agree wholeheartedly with the consensus that it’s for the best if we never see that jetpack again.
Thanks to the introduction of the permanent OG mode and other new shooter modes to attract the attention of folks who aren’t into those sorts of gimmicks, it frees Epic to continue to go hog wild in the core battle royale mode. The detractors can simply avoid that stuff by playing OG instead and not having to deal with it, and the people who do like the gimmicks can keep on keeping on. It works out for everybody.
Hate: Inflation
Inflation hit Fortnite hard over the past year, with Epic introducing a noticeable price increase starting in late 2023. The V Bucks hike was followed by changes in the item shop philosophy, where Icon skins like those of real celebrities (such as Shaq) and ultra customizable skins like the Skratch Company set became the exception rather than the rule. By Chapter 5, Season 4, collaboration skins shifted focus, with 21 new releases, but only a few offering style options such as toggleable features for Iron Spider’s helmet, Black Cat’s mask, and Spider Woman’s webbing. The introduction of Platinum Festival skins minor recolors of existing skins priced at 1,800 V Bucks left players questioning the once inherent value add.
Having spent years immersed in Fortnite’s evolving economy, I found the troubling habit of bundling accessories at a higher price frustrating. Epic’s collaboration skins, including the TMNT skins, showcased this rare practice more aggressively in 2024, with bundle prices rising through the roof some exceeding 3,400 V Bucks. Despite these challenges, the new bundles in December hint at Epic recalibrating towards a more standard, preferred price range, which as a longtime player, feels like a promising step in the right direction.
Love: The return of ambient live events
Each season during Chapter 5 ended with some sort of community live event that took place during battle royale matches, starting with the combined effort to break the chains on Pandora’s Box at the end of Season 1. This was similar to how Fortnite approached these events back in the day, before Epic switched to mostly just doing instanced events like Collision in Chapter 3 and the Big Bang at the end of Chapter 4.
But these ambient events are great, because they last a while it took a whole weekend to open Pandora’s Box, so it was easy for everyone to get involved because there wasn’t one set time for it. And it’s also nice to have that feeling that the island is evolving while we’re on it: something that was harder to pull off with those instanced events.
Hate: The apparent demise of Rocket Racing
Epic’s Rocket Racing mode has struggled with low player engagement, only around 3,000 concurrent players. Unlike Festival and Lego modes, it hasn’t received significant updates or attention, leaving it in limbo. Despite occasional car cosmetics, the mode lacks a compelling hook. As a fan of Fortnite’s diverse modes, I hope Rocket Racing gets the update it deserves it’s too fun to be abandoned.
Love: New cosmetic types
I’ve spent a lot on Fortnite over the years, especially during tough times, and while I’m a harder sell now, Epic keeps me hooked with exciting new additions. From jam tracks and car skins (like my Fast & Furious cars) to fresh kicks for my digital action figures, these new cosmetics keep the game fun and fresh. It’s the small details that make Fortnite even more enjoyable, and I’m excited to see what else Epic adds.
Hate: Epic’s draconian attempts to control player progress
The Fortnite battle pass has always been easy to complete, but Epic has made it harder over time, encouraging players to stick around longer. With new XP modes and attempts like weekly XP throttling in Chapter 6, it’s clear Epic keeps tweaking the system. While frustrating at times, these changes keep the game engaging, forcing players to think creatively while grinding through the battle pass.
Love: The death of exclusivity
Fortnite’s exclusive battle pass cosmetics made sense at launch, but as the game evolved, locking iconic skins like Darth Vader and Indiana Jones for new players felt awkward. Thankfully, Chapter 5 Season 4’s Marvel theme changes that, making battle pass cosmetics accessible over time. This inclusive approach is a much needed change, allowing both veterans and newcomers to enjoy a wider range of pop culture skins. I remember the frustration of missing out on skins, and this update feels like the right move for everyone.
Hate: The neverending argument about exclusivity
Epic recently brought back iconic skins like Renegade Raider and Aerial Assault Trooper, but I wasn’t bothered. As a collector, I already enjoy the gingerbread themed Renegade Raider. With new Santa themed skins for Mariah Carey, Shaq, and Snoop Dogg, plus Cyberpunk 2077 gear, the old skins just don’t seem as exciting anymore. The constant debate on Reddit about reintroducing old items feels tiresome, especially with so many fresh skins and events to enjoy. I’m content with my current collection and think Epic has bigger concerns, like navigating government regulations.
From my personal experience, the fun of getting a new skin or collecting exclusive content has diminished a lot since Fortnite’s early days, and I’m starting to care less about the drama surrounding returning items. It’s clear that Fortnite is evolving, but sometimes the return of old battle pass content just isn’t what I’m looking for anymore.