Fortnite’s Forgotten Original Mode Is Relaunching for Free

After nearly a decade, the foundational experience of the Fortnite universe—the cooperative survival mode where players fortify bases against relentless waves of “Husks”—is finally dropping its entry fee. Epic Games has announced that Fortnite: Save the World will officially transition to a free-to-play model on April 16.

Throughout its history, Save the World has seen various pricing structures. Most recently, it was bundled for $19.99 with included V-Bucks, though its journey began in 2017 with a $39.99 early access price tag. In anticipation of the upcoming April relaunch, Epic has already delisted the mode from digital storefronts to prepare for the surge of new players.

While Fortnite is currently synonymous with its world-conquering Battle Royale mode, Save the World was the original vision, first unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con in 2012. As the debut project for Unreal Engine 4, it was initially intended to be a free-to-play PC title. Although Epic eventually pivoted away from that strategy, the vision has finally come full circle as the game moves into this new era.

The free-to-play version of Fortnite: Save the World will be accessible on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and the Nintendo Switch 2. Players can also stream the game via Amazon Luna, Nvidia GeForce Now, and Xbox Cloud Gaming. However, Epic noted that the mode will remain incompatible with smartphones, tablets, and the original Nintendo Switch hardware.

To drum up excitement, Epic has launched a pre-registration campaign with the ambitious goal of reaching one million sign-ups. Those who register early can claim exclusive in-game rewards, including a free Save the World hero. Veteran players who previously purchased the mode will be compensated with Vouchers, Gold, and Superchargers upon the April 16 launch. Additionally, “Founders” will retain their ability to earn V-Bucks through daily quests, Storm Shield Defenses, and other specific challenges.

Source: Polygon