Fortnite Battle Royale is back on top to close out 2023, but as a result, many players have experienced delays.
Epic Games put unfathomable amounts of work into the Fortnite Chapter 3 – the latest major update to the game’s Battle Royale mode. Chapter 2 concluded on Saturday following the “The End” cinematic event, where Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s in-game character, The Foundation, flipped the previous Island like a pancake. Waiting on the other side was a fresh Fortnite experience, equipped with a new map, mechanics and weapons.
Fortnite Chapter 3’s downtime began after the Chapter 2 event ended. Details soon revealed that Epic Games would roll out the new season over the next 20 hours. This timeframe meant Epic chose not to follow the same three-day downtime as the Chapter 1 to Chapter 2 blackout.
Instead, fans would have the chance to update their game early and experience Chapter 3 Season 1 at 10 AM EST. The new record-shattering season received an overwhelming response, and players eager to try it out suffered noticeable delays.
Delays Following Fortnite Chapter 3 Launch
We’re aware that log-ins, purchases, partying up, and matchmaking may be delayed. We’ll provide an update when this has returned to normal. pic.twitter.com/75o9yM7v7o
– Fortnite Status (@FortniteStatus) December 5, 2023
Many bright-eyed players looking to sink their teeth into Chapter 3 were halted at the login screen almost immediately. Others struggled to queue into matches and would suffer login screen delays after re-launching Fortnite. In the simplest of words, it was chaos. Epic Games was on the case immediately, attempting to resolve any issues.
The developers took to the Fortnite Status Twitter account four minutes following Chapter 3’s launch with an update. Four hours later, Epic advised players experiencing issues with closing and reopening the client with less than four minutes remaining the queue countdown to bypass the login screen. Eventually, Epic resolved all queue issues and players could begin their Chapter 3 adventure.
Another Milestone Four Years Later
You always impress, Fortnite fam! The team is working hard to deliver a smooth Chapter 3 experience for the millions of players who joined us, by far the most players we’ve ever seen at the launch of a season. https://t.co/abj6uHat2g
– Fortnite (@FortniteGame) December 5, 2023
While more problems surfaced throughout the day, Epic steadied the ship, allowing millions to join in on the action. Fortnite’s primary Twitter account addressed the issues during the chaos:
“You always impress, Fortnite fam! The team is working hard to deliver a smooth Chapter 3 experience for the millions of players who joined us, by far the most players we’ve ever seen at the launch of a season. ”
The anticipation ahead of Chapter 3 was a significant storyline. However, few predicted it to beat out Chapter 2 in terms of participation. Fortnite’s infamous blackout occurred when it had an untouchable following. Two years later, seeing a more robust turnout proves that Epic Games still has several tricks in the bag.
It seems the Chapter 2 Finale and #FortniteFlipped marketing drew more players than expected. Whether enthusiasm or morbid curiosity, Epic did an excellent job building Chapter 3 and navigated the launch day issues well. Only time will tell whether the masses will stick around to see what else the developers have in store down the line.
