Epic released a major update for the map of Fortnite: Battle Royale on Thursday. How does the new map play? And how does the performance update affect gameplay? Read here the preview report from our author Robert!
The hype was significant in the lead-up. Epic spent the last months extensively reworking the map of Fortnite: Battle Royale. The map layout has changed dramatically – not only are the landscapes more refined and individualized, but Epic has also added new locations.
In the patch notes for version 2.2.0, Epic also addressed performance improvements that are meant to make the gaming experience even smoother. To put it briefly – It has been excellently achieved, at least on the PlayStation 4!
The Landscapes of the Map – Finally Unique
Epic did not overpromise. The landscapes of the map are now clearly distinguishable from one another, and the colors are significantly more differentiated. The flora has also been fundamentally revamped. Trees alternate. Grass sways in the wind. Water and swamp are depicted in finer detail.
The Fortnite Map Has Gone Vertical
Where uniform houses dominated before the update, there is now more variety. But not only the buildings have been revamped; especially in the vertical dimension, there are now many more possibilities.
Multi-story houses, treasure chests that initially seem inaccessible – you can feel that the map has grown in height. A highlight in this regard is the new city Tilted Towers – and that’s where I want to go first!
Tilted Towers – Where Madness Resides
Tilted Towers is the new city located south of Loot Lake. It was expected that this location would be overcrowded in the first weeks. Nevertheless, I was not prepared for the ensuing carnage.
Since I didn’t know the best landing spots in the city yet, I looked for a secluded house on the edge. While the first players were already causing chaos amongst themselves, I was able to search the house for valuable items in peace.
This allowed me to stay out of the turmoil for a moment. But only for the moment. The city of Tilted Towers is heavily contested: Whoever leaves as the last survivor will likely have good chances of victory.
The city is a real asset, especially in terms of height. Multi-story houses with plenty of loot present a high risk but also high potential. Additionally, the city is strategically well-positioned – in almost every match, I was able to spend the first storm phase in the city.
Upon leaving the city, a beautiful hilly landscape reveals itself, ready to be explored and containing additional locations for loot hunting.
The Performance – Even Smoother and Better
Epic has substantially improved performance on the PS4. Various stutters have been noticeably reduced, and the gaming experience is smoother. Minor lags still occur, and the issue with treasure chests is still present (They continue to appear as unopened after being opened), but it is not as bothersome as before.
The graphics have also made a leap forward. Fog and sunlight breaking through the trees are highlights. The grass reacts when players run over it, and water animations when wading has also been added.
Conclusion – Great Update with Even More Possibilities
Hats off, Epic! The new locations provide even more strategic options, the performance has been noticeably improved, and the graphics look really nice. I haven’t explored every corner of the new locations yet, but what I have seen so far is thoroughly convincing.
Many players feared that the eastern part of the map would now remain deserted and neglected. That is not the case. The Moisty Mire swamp has been expanded, and new houses have been added between Prison and Retail Row.
However, there is one disadvantage. Due to the clear differentiation of landscapes, players who have donned a bush are much easier to spot in certain locations, as they fall completely out of color scheme.
I particularly noticed this in the Moisty Mire swamp. Whether Epic will change something here is unknown – it at least ensures that bushes can no longer be used indiscriminately across the entire map.
What do you think of the update? Let us know in the comments!
