Epic Games has announced that one of its most controversial changes to Fortnite’s Battle Royale gameplay is getting a permanent seat at the table. Fortnite Zero Build Mode has been announced today. As is kind of obvious in the title, this new game mode will prohibit players from any building during their battle royale matches in Fortnite.
Building has always been a key component of Fortnite’s Battle Royale gameplay, up until very recently. The arrival of Chapter 3, Season 2 has seen building be removed completely from the main battle royale game modes. While this change certainly upset many members of the Fortnite community, many have been glad to see building removed. It certainly seems as if Epic is responding to the positive reactions with the introduction of Fortnite Zero Build.
According to the latest update on the Fortnite website, Epic has explained the upcoming changes in its new no-build mode. “Zero Build is a pure test of weapon, item, and traversal ability,” the team has said. They’ve also clarified the playlists that Zero Build mode will be accessible from, namely Solo, Duos, Trios and Squads.
As reported previously, the removal of building in-game was cushioned with the addition of the Overshield mechanic, which the Fortnite team are keen for players to view as their primary defensive strategy in their Zero Build games. Additionally, enhanced movement mechanics such as mantling, sprinting and using the ascenders to access overhead blimps have been implemented to make up for the loss of construction abilities.
Whether or not Epic will return building to the main gameplay modes in Fortnite remains to be seen. The move has certainly seen many of the Fortnite community divided into builders versus non-builders. However, for those who have been pleased to see it removed altogether, the addition of Fortnite Zero Build will surely come as welcome news.