Fortnite, the hybrid shooter/action/building/survival game from Epic Games, finally announced a release date, launching as an early access title on Mac, PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on July 25, 2017, after being in development since 2011. Accompanying the announcement came an all new E3 2017 gameplay trailer, which lasts a whopping 4 1/2 minutes and goes into some serious detail on the game’s mechanics and themes.
In the world of Fortnite, 98% of the world’s population has disappeared, replaced by cute little zombie-looking creatures called “husks” who shuffle towards you in waves. You play as one of a group of several specialized heroes, battling the undead as you work to save other surivors, level up your heroes, and build and defend your ultimate fortress.
The gameplay of Fortnite follows the player through several distinct phases. Firstly, the player travels around in a squad with friendly heroes, roaming through the wilds and rooting through urban environments as they chop down trees, rip apart scrap, and scavenge through buildings for useful supplies. The player then uses these supplies to construct a fort, setting up walls, traps, and strategic vantage points for defenders in anticipation of the coming zombie onslaught.
Then, the battle begins, and the heroes must fight off the zombies using a varied arsenal of firearms, explosives, and melee weapons. While in battle, the game’s building tools are still accessible, allowing the player to construct, repair, and adjust their fort as the husks advance.
Fortnite has been showing around to specific media outlets for the past few weeks, to somewhat mixed reviews; Kotaku calls the game “just fine”, while Charlie Hall of Polygon calls the game boring and “a bit of a grind”.
Fortnite will be showing at E3 this year, where more information and gameplay will undoubtedly be revealed. For now, you can learn more about Fortnite at fortnite.com.