Epic Games deployed the Fortnite v40.20 update this Wednesday, April 16th, one of the most anticipated of Season 2, Chapter 7. The most significant change: Save the World mode, previously a paid experience, is now free-to-play and standalone, separate from Battle Royale. This marks a major shift for the PvE mode launched in 2017, which had been gradually overshadowed by Battle Royale.

Showdown Act 2: New Combat Phase

The update inaugurates the second act of the Showdown season, featuring new weapons, map changes, and novel gameplay mechanics. Servers went offline at 10 AM (Paris time) for approximately four hours of maintenance. According to Beebom and Insider Gaming, players can expect AI-powered conversations with in-game NPCs, a first for Fortnite.

Laufey Joins Fortnite Festival

Another notable event: Icelandic singer and Grammy Award winner Laufey makes her debut in Fortnite Festival. Her skin was revealed after weeks of leaks and rumors. Players will be able to acquire her cosmetics and play her songs in the game's music mode. According to Vice and Sportskeeda, the Laufey crossover is one of the most anticipated of the season.

A Bet on Free-to-Play

By making Save the World free, Epic Games hopes to revitalize a mode that still had millions of loyal players but suffered from a lack of visibility compared to Battle Royale. This decision comes as the game surpasses 400 million accounts created worldwide.