Fortnite’s battle royale mode is now available for free on PC, Xbox One, and PS4. In recent days, there has been much discussion about whether this mode is just a clone of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG). Our author Leya played Fortnite Battle Royale and finds that the two games have significant differences.
Those who have been following gaming news in recent days will undoubtedly have come across the controversy between Fortnite Battle Royale and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds where the creators of PUBG (Bluehole) expressed their frustration over Epic Games, the developers of Fortnite, allegedly copying the successful model of PUBG.
However, Bluehole’s complaints have actually increased the interest in Fortnite’s battle royale mode for many. I felt the same way, and I decided to test Epic Games’ new battle royale mode in a live stream. I wanted to find out whether Fortnite Battle Royale was indeed just a cheap copy of PUBG. Since the stream, I have played a few more rounds and here I will share my impressions.
Fortnite’s battle royale & PUBG are fundamentally similar
In both games, you jump from a flying object at the start of a round. In Fortnite, it’s a colorful party bus hanging from a balloon, while in PUBG it’s a serious airplane. With a parachute, you land safely on an island and must quickly gather weapons and equipment.
In both games, a death zone appears as a circle that continuously closes in towards the center. This forces all participants to eventually confront each other in a small area. It doesn’t work to hide forever.
In the battle royale genre, the focus is on the hard fight for survival. Players kill each other until only one man or woman remains – the “last man standing” principle.
Fortnite’s battle royale is by no means just a cheap copy of PUBG, even though the similarities are strong.
Fortnite combines building & destroying with battle royale – adds a new level to the genre
Fortnite’s battle royale has a special twist: just like in its PvE mode, you can also act as a builder in Fortnite’s battle royale. Right at the start, you will be equipped with a pickaxe that you can use to gather materials. Trees, cars, mushrooms, walls, roofs – everything can be destroyed in Fortnite.
From the materials, you can build walls, stairs, or traps. You can even create your own little house from where you wait with a sniper for other players. The downside: Building is quite loud, and gathering materials is too. You can easily get caught and be murdered from behind.
Especially at the beginning of the match, building seems rather pointless to me. Because of the death storm, which effectively reduces the area, you gain little from a hut that stands at the edge. You have to leave it anyway. Building stairs was still most useful to me because it allowed me to take a quick shortcut to some roofs. Often, loot boxes with special rifles and armor awaited me there.
Overall, however, I encountered very few players – especially in the single-player mode – who took full advantage of building. Being alone is often too risky to give up your cover and build something. In multiplayer, I used building more often with my group. One person can focus on building while the others protect the builder.
However, smashing everything you come across is quite useful. No one is safe behind their wall. Fear the pickaxe!
Even if the building system is not fully developed in battle royale mode, it adds something new to the genre. This definitely sets Fortnite apart from other battle royale games like PUBG.
I am very curious to see what strategies will emerge and to what extent Epic Games will develop building in Fortnite’s battle royale.
Colorful comic graphics give Fortnite’s battle royale a casual atmosphere
Fortnite’s battle royale, like its PvE mode, adheres to a colorful comic graphic style. This gives the dark genre a rather cheerful atmosphere. This contrast is something you have to appreciate.
The graphics alone gave me the impression that Fortnite’s battle royale is very “casual-friendly” and invites you to some light rounds in the evening. The extreme tension and heart racing, as I experience in PUBG, are absent in Fortnite. Everything feels too colorful and too cheerful, which I find pleasant.
Due to the different styles both titles exhibit, different people might be drawn to the two games. PUBG or other titles of the genre often focus on strong realism. The pure fight for survival feels “more real” and results in adrenaline rushes.
Fortnite’s battle royale is especially fun in groups
Fortnite’s PvP mode has already given me a lot of joy when played alone. I had the most fun later on in a group. I dived into battles with groups of 2 to 4 friends.
In a team, I could make better use of the building function and take my time to look around. It’s simply enjoyable to play a few light rounds with friends and to help each other out.
Currently, it is still not possible for teams of two to compete against other two-man groups. In the two-man group, there were frequent unfair matches as others were playing with four players, and being two can quickly result in being outnumbered.
This “duo mode” is, however, supposed to be introduced. The feeling of “playing at a disadvantage” is thus only a temporary problem.
Fortnite’s battle royale is not a cheap copy – it (hopefully) follows its own path
Fortnite’s battle royale looks like a colorful copy of PUBG at first glance. But PUBG is itself not a copy of countless other battle royale games/modes.
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel all the time. Fortnite’s battle royale takes an existing recipe and adds its own twist. I hope Epic Games will continue on its own path with Fortnite’s battle royale in the future. Through the wonderfully outrageous comic world, they create their own charm in a bizarre battle for survival.
The building elements add something to the genre that players can still experiment with. Epic Games should focus on deepening exactly these aspects and turn its battle royale mode into a personal dish.
The advantages of Fortnite over PUBG I currently see in three things:
- Fortnite’s battle royale is free. PUBG currently costs 30 euros.
- Fortnite’s battle royale is already available on PS4 and Xbox One. PUBG is only available for PC, and an announcement for PS4 is not yet in sight.
- Fortnite’s battle royale has a smooth performance. PUBG still struggles with lags and crashes, even though it has improved.
However, the games are so different in their appearance that they will attract different people. I see the two titles more as friendly competing products that can coexist. After all, Fortnite’s battle royale is simply ideal for light and quick rounds in between. This is also supported by the third-person view, which is more suitable for casual gameplay.
PUBG seems to focus more on the hardcore competition and will attract serious PvP gamers. For the passionate PUBG player, Fortnite could be a fun and nice addition to see something different.
It remains to be seen whether Fortnite’s battle royale will win over the console players on its own. Depending on how the game develops, they could certainly take advantage of being the first to be playable on PS4 and Xbox One.
However, there will also be some players who see Fortnite’s PvP mode merely as a stopgap until PUBG comes out and then switch.
The interest in Fortnite is currently huge: Over 1 million players have already played Fortnite’s battle royale at release.
Are you among the millions and what is your opinion on Fortnite’s battle royale?
