A couple things have happened in Fortnite since the last post, so thought I'd update.
Epic adds stuff to this game constantly. Feels like every week something is added. We now have new silenced SMGs and silenced pistols. Mini shield potions got added so its easier to have and keep shields over the course of a match. Traps got changed so its just spike traps but can be placed on floors, walls, and ceilings. Jump pad got added that lets you launch into the air and deploy your glider, good for outrunning the storm or dropping into enemy bases from above. I don't remember when it was added but there is also a bush costume you can wear to look like a bush and hide.
They've added an in-game store with cosmetic items to buy, but they are really expensive. New since December is what they call the "Battle Pass". It was the cost of a skin, but allows you to unlock a whole bunch of cosmetic items. Several skins, emotes, dances, etc. As you play you gain XP, which levels up your account and each level will give you some "stars". Completing daily quests also earns stars. Every 10 stars unlocks a level of the battle pass, with 70 total levels. It was only $10 for the season so I bought in considering I havent spent any money on the game before and have been enjoying it. Seemed pretty reasonable.
Now the big update that happened today was kind of a double whammy. First they added level streaming to the game so now only the area around you is loaded. This greatly improves performance and load times, which is crazy because it already ran and loaded pretty quickly for me. This also allowed them to update the map to make each area more unique. Areas now have custom textures and trees so there is more visual variety as you run around. Many new major and minor points of interest now dot the map including a large city full of tall buildings, a junkyard, a motel, a haunted church, underground mines, etc. Its great and is almost like getting a whole new map.
Special time limited modes have been tested. 50v50 was the first where 2 massive teams face off. It was a lot of fun. High Explosive where the only weapons that spawn were rocket launchers and grenade launchers. And a Sneaky Silencer mode where the new silenced weapons were all you could find. More are on their way and its a fun way to break up the game.
There was also a new shooting model mode that went up accidentally but will come back to be tested. Right now the way the guns work is with "bloom". Put your crosshair on someone and shoot, the bullet will go that way but there is some variation. This feels ok because its kind of like recoil and allows you to keep your crosshair where you want it, but the downside is it's random. Sometimes you'll have your crosshair on someone and just miss every shot. The new shooting model will change that so weapons instead will have recoil that moves your crosshair. More shots will go where you're aiming but it will take some skill to constantly adjust to the recoil. Not sure when that will come up for testing and we'll see when it gets added permanently as the new shooting model but that will be a fairly drastic change.
Anyway, game is rad. Ive been playing a lot because of the battle pass and have come to really enjoy it. I've gotten a good number of wins playing solo now which feels pretty good.
