In Fortnite, players collaborate to survive in an open-world environment, by battling other characters who are controlled either by the game itself, or by other players. Violence is cartoonish, but some characters and scenes might disturb younger players.
The single-player or co-operative mode (played with friends) involves fighting off zombie-like creatures. But Fortnite’s most popular mode is its standalone free-to-play multiplayer platform, Fortnite Battle Royale, in which up to 100 players enter an online game, competing individually or as part of squads of up to four, to be the last player standing within a ever-decreasing battle arena.
Fortnite, an incredibly popular free-to-play PC game, is the latest title to capitalize on the battle royale craze.
Fortnite distinguishes itself with cartoon-style graphics and unique construction mechanics, but the premise is familiar. Your goal is to be the last person, squad, or team left alive in a round. That's easier said than done, of course, since each match includes 99 other players, all of whom have the same goal. Although the four-person Squad or 50 vs. 50 team modes can dramatically reduce the number of enemy combatants, you still compete indirectly with your teammates to get the best score.
The best way to improve your Fortnite performance is to dive into the game for a few hours and get first-hand experience. Fortnite is more accessible than Player Unknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), and you are likely to fare better without as much experience. Still, there's no harm in familiarizing yourself with some basic mechanics and strategies beforehand. Although we can't guarantee these tips will propel you to a first-place finish, following them will improve your chances. Luck, after all, determines many of the outcomes in these types of games.
Fortnite is available on a wide range of platforms, but you need to make sure all your devices meet the minimum requirements if you plan to play everywhere. Check out the requirements below for each platform.
For PCs and Macs, Epic Games requires at least an Intel HD 4000 or Iris Pro 5200 GPU, a Core i3 2.4GHz CPU, and 4GB of RAM. The recommended specs demand more powerful hardware: a Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 or AMD Radeon HD 7870 equivalent DX11 GPU with 2GB VRAM, a Core i5 2.8GHz CPU, and 8GB of RAM. Fortnite also requires your machine to run at least the Windows 7 or macOS X Sierra (10.12.6) operating systems. Note that your macOS device must also support the Metal API.
For reference, Fortnite takes up about 20GB of disk space. I tested Fortnite on my Dell Inspiron 5675 gaming PC running Windows 10. My system features a Ryzen 1700X CPU, Radeon 580 8GB GPU, and 32GB of RAM. At the highest settings and 1080p resolution, the game ran at around 70 frames per second according to the FRAPS tool.
If you want to play Fortnite on an iPhone, make sure your model is one of the following: SE, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, or X. If you want to play Fortnite on an iPad, you need one of the following models: mini 4, Air 2, 2017, or Pro. Interested players can download the game from the App Store or head over to the website for more information. Note that Fortnite does not work on the iPod touch.
Fortnite arrived on Android a while back, but you needed to sign up for the beta and be approved before getting access to the game. Epic Games has since removed that requirement and anyone with a compatible device can now download and play the game. Check out our hands-on preview of Fortnite on Android for our impressions.
Note that Fortnite is bypassing the Google Play Store and is instead available as a download from the developer's site. Make sure that any app download you initiate comes from a legitimate source, since this workaround exposes your device to potential vulnerabilities. Take a look at our guide on how to install Fortnite on Android, if you have any issues.
Also check out Epic's list of compatible Android devices before getting too excited about playing. The Essential PH-1, LG G6, OnePlus 6, and all Google Pixel models make the list.
Any of the latest Xbox One consoles can run Fortnite, including the Xbox One X. However, there's a catch. Since the game is currently in early access, Xbox players need an Xbox Live Gold subscription in order to play the Battle Royale mode.
All models of the PlayStation 4 can run Fortnite. You don't need to be a PS Plus member to play the game, either. Recently, Sony announced cross-play support for Fortnite on the PS4, after significant player backlash against Sony's initial refusal to offer this capability. The feature is now in open beta, so players can now use the same account across all platforms.
Also check out Epic's list of compatible Android devices before getting too excited about playing. The Essential PH-1, LG G6, OnePlus 6, and all Google Pixel models make the list.
Nintendo only makes one version of the Switch and Fortnite's Battle Royale mode is one of the many Switch games you can download for the handheld console. Just head over to the Nintendo Game Store. Epic Games has no plans to launch the Save the World PvE mode on the platform.
If you're just starting out with Fortnite, it's useful to watch the rest of the match after you are eliminated. When you die, the game automatically switches to the perspective of whoever killed you. And when that player dies, it changes to the new killer's view. You can continue to hop between players up until the end of each match. It's tempting to launch into a new match immediately after you die, but the more time you dedicate to learning how to play Fortnite correctly, the more time (in the long run) you will spend actually in-game. Besides, if you leave a match early, especially any squad- or team-based modes, then there's no way find out how your compadres fared. A bit of moral support can go a long way. Check out the map at any time for an overview of the match and to locate teammates.
One benefit of staying with a match is that it forces you to pause and review the circumstances that led to your death. If you notice a trend in how you die in Fortnite, it's wise to change your strategy. For example, I carelessly wandered into the open a few times, which made me an easy target for enemy players. You need to be overly cautious when moving between areas of cover, even if you feel like you are alone. Also, if you see someone else land on top of or near a building, it's worth looking for a new place to start foraging for materials and weapons. Avoid confrontation, unless absolutely necessary.
Another advantage to sticking around until the end is that you can see how increasingly skilled players play the game. While many players may in fact just move around aimlessly hoping to avoid detection, others actually employ useful strategies. For example, after dying early on in one of my first matches, I realized the potential of Fortnite's construction mechanic. The player I followed repeatedly built structures around himself both for protection and to gain a better vantage point. Other times, he used existing structures and buildings as the foundation for larger-scale fortresses. This is a common strategy in team-based matches, as well; by the end of the game, the map is littered with impressive structures, some of which tower high into the sky.
Fortnite's construction system is one of the game's strongest aspects. Each player goes into battle with an ax (or similar tool) that he or she uses to chop down and collect objects. Most of the environment is destructible, and hacking down everything from houses to vehicles to trees and rocks is endlessly satisfying. You don't ever run out stamina while scavenging, which is great, as is the fact that the game automatically adds the material to your inventory once you break them down. It's a very quick and effective system. Another small detail I appreciate is the sound design; you hear an increasingly higher-pitched tone with each ax swing as you get closer to destroying an object.
Objects break down into three main materials: wood, bricks, and metal. You have five slots for building objects, including a fence, square floor, pyramid, campfire, and stairs. You can construct items with any of the materials (with the exception of the campfire). Metal is the strongest material, followed by brick, and then wood.
Keep in mind that the stronger the material, the longer it takes to build. So, if you are in a tight spot and need immediate cover, building wooden barriers is your best bet. It's surprisingly simple to construct a building or makeshift shelter. Everything snaps together nicely, and it's easy to customize individual components should you need to add a window or door. You can also break down or move barriers if you accidentally start building in the wrong location.
Construction is one of the keys to advancing far into a match. Foremost, you can build ramps and steps to access areas you couldn't before. For example, if you see a weapon or health pack on top of a roof, this mechanic lets you reach it. If you are under fire, you can immediately build a shelter and try to wait out the threat. During later parts of the match, you can create a lookout post and watch for enemy movements. In team modes, constructing is even more important. If you are skilled enough to reach the center of the map with most of your team intact, building massive, protective shelters can greatly increase your chance of survival.
As with the rest of the environment, however, anything you construct can be destroyed by combatants with any sort of weapon. Take caution when another player fires a rocket or throws a grenade towards your base; either can cause everything to come tumbling down.
Let's face it, Fortnite's shooting and combat mechanics are hit-or-miss. As in, it's a matter of luck whether you hit or miss your target. That said, you are even less likely to survive a confrontation if you are unarmed. So, your priority when you land should be to find at least one gun. You can fight off other players with your ax, but that only deals a small amount of damage.
I also recommend collecting as many guns as you can (your character has five item slots). First and foremost, it provides you with a range of attack options when you come across another player. A shotgun, for example, is much more effective in close quarters than a sniper rifle. Further, since it is difficult to actually hit targets in the game, you are likely to run out of ammo quickly. Why find more bullets, when you can just as easily switch to another weapon? Also, if you pick up an extra gun and end up not using it, that's still one less gun in the hands of your enemy.
Be sure to stay up to date with Fortnite's latest developer updates. Sometimes, new weapons are added to the game, such as the new heavy shotgun. You don't want to be caught off guard if another player fires an unfamiliar weapon in your direction, since any hesitation can result in your death. The best way to get familiar with a new weapon is to use it. Pick up any new and menacing gear as you scavenge and test its power against unsuspecting trees and houses.
If you do manage to kill another player, be sure to pick up all the loot they drop. You shouldn't hesitate to take a better weapon or a much-needed health pack. However, if you deliberate too long on which items to collect, you become an easy target for anyone else in the area. And then the person who kills you gets double the loot. Don't make it too easy for your enemies.
