The world ofFortniteis expanding this week into some new realms.Lego Fortnite,Rocket Racing, andFortnite Festivalare three new experiences (games) coming toFortnitethroughout the week.
These new live-service games launch insideFortniteas part of Epic’s growing library of user-generated content. The creative sides ofFortnitehave had plenty of custom-made projects in them, from fan creations to Epic’s re-telling ofAlan WakeinsideFortnite, and now the scale is climbing higher with three notable launches.
These three games were teased during the recentFortniteevent, some even with playable sections. But what are each of the games? Let’s start at the top with the family-orientedLego Fortnite.
Lego Fortnite
We don’t have a ton to go off here, other than thatLego Fortnitewill be a new Epic adventure taking place within the brick-based world of Lego. Itssitedescribes the experience as the “ultimate survival crafting adventure,” so I think some degree of harvesting resources and building constructs is expected.
Many of the FAQs, at this time of writing, are fairly vague. But one cool note is that a bunch ofFortniteskins have been convertedinto Lego formfor the crossover.
Your favorite Fortnite outfits but in ✨LEGO✨ bricksOver 1,200 Outfits now have a LEGO Style. Find them in your Locker and the Item Shop.pic.twitter.com/QhuKGqcUV4
Over 1,200 Outfits have a Lego Style. Obviously, for licensing reasons, this won’t apply toeveryskin inFortnite. But I really, really hope we get Lego All Might.
Lego Fortnitegoes live onDecember 7insideFortnite.
Rocket Racing
A new racing game from Psyonix seems like a free kick, to use some fitting parlance.Epic purchased Psyonix years agoand brought it under the Epic Games umbrella, and now the studio has a new game insideFortnite.
From the event video, it seems like it’s a pretty high-octane racer, with some gravity-defying movement options. An arcade racing game from a studio that’s made one of the most fascinating virtual applications of cars in years is definitely one to watch, in my opinion.
Rocket Racingwill golive on December 8insideFortnite.
Fortnite Festival
Harmonix isanother studio Epic has acquired over the years, which makes sense, givenFortnite‘s penchant for live in-game concerts. The subsequentshuttering of online servicesforFUSERwas a huge bummer, though, and Harmonix has felt largely quiet until now, withFortnite Festival.
Fortnite Festivalis billed as a game where players can play in a band or perform solo alongside hit music from various artists. It seems like we got a brief taste of it in theFortniteBig Bang, where players could tap along to “Lose Yourself” by Eminem.
Fortnite FestivalSeason 1 will kick off officially on December 9, with The Weeknd as its first in-game Music Icon. What that means isn’t incredibly clear right now. I’m hoping this leads to a new wave of rhythm gaming online with friends. Much as I like tapping along to live concerts, I’d want something I can score-chase and return to, the way I still do withFUSERandGuitar Hero.
We’ll find out more whenSeason1 ofFortnite Festivalgoes live on December 9.
A generated future forFortnite
It’s a big move to see Epic pushFortnitefurther into not just a popular battle royale with some creative modes on the side, but a full-on gaming platform. Obvious comparisons can be drawn toRoblox, though I’m personally reminded of old Blizzard games likeWarcraftandStarCraft, which had burgeoning custom game scenes that formulated entire genres of their own.
Seeing an official, Epic-led push over three days, and with three heavy hitters, certainly makes me curious about the future ofFortnite. Are we inching ever-closer to a future whereFortnitein-game launches are something to watch for?
I’d need to see the breadth and scope of these to get a better idea. But even worse-case scenario, I’m happy to check out new games from Psyonix and Harmonix. We’ll see how these experiences turn out over the course of three days this weekend.
