Now that Fortnite is officially kicking off Chapter 3 there are a number of changes that players should be aware of before they pick a controller and head in. The first big hint that these changes are more than just a few tweaks is that Fortnite went dark after the end of Chapter 2, which has only previously happened when developer Epic Games needs to make substantial changes to the map and bring in new skins.
In addition to a new landscape coming with this chapter of Fortnite, there are also some bigger changes. More than cosmetics, the updates and tweaks coming with Chapter 3 include a couple of new ways in which players can enjoy the game. New mechanics, especially on this scale, are few and far between even if Epic is seemingly always working at adding new features to keep people coming back.
Sliding and Swinging in Fortnite Chapter 3
One of the newest features has been a known quantity for months. Leakers found some hints in Fortnite data that showed the ability for characters to slide would be part of Chapter 3 as early as September 2021. Employing this new mechanic is easy, even for those who might not be well-polished players. In order to slide, players just need to hit the same button (whether on PC or console) they normally use to crouch. If the character is moving when they hit the crouch button, they will go into a slide.
The other big action change that is coming to Fortnite Chapter 3 is a nod to one of its headlining skins. It has been known for a while that Spider-Man was arriving in Fortnite, and Epic Games is looking to make sure people can take advantage of everything that makes the webhead such a popular character. That includes the ability to swing from one object to another.
It's pretty clear that the ability to both swing and slide will create new ways to avoid enemy fire. These new mechanics can also be used to jump into the fray in new and creative ways, so both swinging and sliding in Fortnite Chapter 3 can be seen as offensive and defensive tools.
The newest chapter of the long-running Fortnite is also confirmed to have campsites the player can place in order to serve as an extra defensive wall and store weaponry for later. Fortnite Chapter 3's launch trailer doesn't explicitely touch upon other leaked features like a throwable axe possibly coming to Fortnite. However, on top of focusing on the way Epic Games is flipping its map around, the trailer also pays special attention to one huge new mechanic impacting the island.
Weather Plays a Role In Fortnite Chapter 3
Perhaps taking a page out of Battlefield 2042's playbook, this next chapter of Fortnite has some weather effects that impact what happens during any given match. For example, the trailer showcases huge spectacles like tornados having an effect on gameplay, letting users take advantage of tornadoes to get out their gliders and move around the map faster. It's likely these extreme weather events will directly intervene during certain firefights, but it will be interesting to see what else Epic Games adds from here now that it essentially wiped the slate clean.
Fortnite is free-to-play on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.