Fortnite has had its share of bugs and exploits over the years, but most have not been game-breaking. However, Fortnite's Season 6 has had its run of issues leading up to what could be an exploit that tips the scales too heavily, as players have found a way to duplicate an infinite amount of throwable items, such as food and shields, in-game.
Exploits that allow for item duplication are nothing new in video games. The original Diablo had an exploit that would allow the player to duplicate an item if they were able to click a potion fast enough while trying to pick the item up off the ground. However, as online gaming has become more prevalent, and competition is at an all-time high, exploits of this nature have the ability to create unfair conditions.
On April 16, YouTuber "OrangeGuy" demonstrated how to duplicate throwable items. "OrangeGuy" showed that by starting with a full inventory, players must switch to the throwable item. They must then switch to a gun and at the last possible moment, throw the item. This will throw an extra copy of the item, as well as the original. There is some timing involved in the technique, but "OrangeGuy" shows off exactly how to do it.
While this does create issues for people unwilling to cheat the system, those that seek to abuse it could be in for a rude awakening. Utilizing bugs and glitches to gain an unfair advantage is strictly against the terms of service for Fortnite. As of this writing, there has been no word from Epic, Fortnite's developer, and no mention of it on the Fortnite development Trello board.
The issue can have effects other than gameplay. DreamHack postponed their community tournament slated for April 17 & 18 due to integrity concerns. While not listing the duplication issue as the cause, the bug certainly can create an integrity issue inside the game. On top of the item duplication exploit, players have been struggling with an odd glitch that flips the screen during a Fornite match. Other tournaments will have to decide what the best course of action will be when determining how to move forward.
Fortnite has been a cultural phenomenon for years and has had its share of success and controversy, albeit with players and in-game content. Keeping a balanced and fair environment is crucial for any online competitive game, and while there has been no word on a resolution for the issue, one can expect that a fix will be forthcoming.
Fortnite is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.