They have been in the game files for a while, and they are finally coming to Fortnite: Balloons will be the new item. But what exactly can you do with them? If you’re thinking of the movie “Up,” you might not be too far off!
New item “Balloons” expected this week: After the balloons were also announced in-game via a message, it is highly likely that the balloons will be added to the game this week (probably Tuesday or Wednesday with the next update).
Dataminers have found hints about the balloons earlier: Balloons would have been the perfect item for Fortnite’s birthday. It is unknown why they are only now making their way to Fortnite.
Until now, players have been able to do little with the information since there were no hints in the game files apart from the item itself – until now!
What exactly will players be able to do with the balloons? The in-game announcement clearly states what purpose the colorful balloons can serve. With these, you are supposed to trick gravity and jump higher.
After the grapple hook and the jetpack, players will have another tool to further shift gameplay vertically. It’s still unclear how the balloons will be “used”:
- They can lie on the ground as an item and will move to the inventory when picked up
- They will be placed where traps are also stored
- They will simply be used directly upon pickup (similar to mushrooms and apples)
It is also uncertain whether multiple balloons can be used at once to reach greater heights. This would strongly resemble the movie “Up,” where a retiree uses thousands of balloons to rise and find an idol from his childhood.
Balloons break easily, what does this mean for Fortnite? It is highly likely that players will be able to shoot the balloons out from under wandering opponents in the air, as they are extremely fragile compared to the grapple hook and jetpack.
Theoretically, a foe could be eliminated this way if it weren’t for the mechanic that allows you to deploy your glider at any time in the air, which Epic has implemented. This functionality, originally introduced in the LTM (Limited Time Mode) “Height Rush,” has been carried over to the main game.
Since it would be pointless to destroy an opponent’s balloons in this scenario, Epic will likely turn off the glider mechanic again this week. This is also supported by Epic announcing the functionality as a limited-time experiment.
We will probably learn the final details about the balloons only after the update. However, the combination of grapple hooks and balloons promises a variety of tactical tricks that clever players can try out.
What do you think of the balloons? A meaningful addition or just unnecessary fluff?
