The OG Fortnite mode ‘Save the World’ is finally going free-to-play.
Fortnite developer Epic Games has dropped a major reveal, announcing plans to make the game’s original Save the World mode free-to-play starting 16 April. The mode, soon to be freed from its long-standing paywall, will also be launched on the Nintendo Switch 2.
As pioneers of the Fortnite universe might know, Save the World was the initial form of Fortnite, featuring cooperative PvE gameplay. In this mode, players gather resources to build forts and defences against zombie-like enemies, and complete missions.
Save the World was released as a paid experience. Ironically, Epic Games created the free-to-play Battle Royale mode just two months later to promote the original game–only for it to become far more popular and eventually stand as Fortnite’s go-to mode.
Despite Save the World being pushed aside and attracting less popularity over the years, it remained locked behind a paywall. Players could access the game by purchasing a starter bundle for approximately US$18.
Now, after nine long years, and after previously promising to make the OG mode free for everyone, Epic Games is finally delivering.
Fortnite: Save the World will officially become free-to-play starting 16 April, and it will simultaneously launch on Switch 2, marking the first time the mode will be available on a Nintendo handheld console. The mode is also readily available on PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox Series consoles.
Milestone rewards revealed
Players planning to save the world will also be rewarded with secret milestone rewards. Epic Games has shared details about player registration milestones on its website, set at 300,000, 700,000, and 1,000,000 player milestones.
While the prizes will remain hidden until each milestone is reached, Epic has teased that Snowstrike Hero will be one of the unlockable rewards.
Epic Games has been on a streak of major announcements recently, though not all have been well received. Alongside a growing number of collaborations and the recent announcement of its next Battle Royale season, the company also revealed a price increase for its in-game currency, V-Bucks, stating that it needs help from the players “to pay increasing bills”.
