Introducing the Fortnite season 6: release date & more

Since its release in 2017, Epic Games’ Fortnite has become a genuine global gaming sensation. Mixing up zombie slaying action with hectic Fortnite Battle Royale death matches, there’s no doubt that Fortnite was the year’s best shooter. But it hasn’t stood still. As usual with modern games, the developers have regularly added new content to the Fortnite engine, tweaking the gameplay and graphics, while adding new themes for gamers to discover.

Say goodbye to season 5

In Fortnite world, these updates are called “seasons”, and so far we’re in the cusp of Season 6. If it can better Season 5, this new update will be doing well. Along with both a desert biome and arctic map for Battle Royale, the penultimate batch of content added interactive elements like golf courses and toys, as well as handy vehicles like All-terrain Karts or rifts, which propel players hundreds of feet into the air.

Season 5 made mobility a key element of battle tactics, partially blunting the threat of machine guns, explosives and snipers. But it wasn’t flawless. In fact, Epic Games have rushed out a Fortnite 5.4 update to remove the Drum Gun (which was thought to deal too much damage), while the Suppressed Assault Rifle was added.

Introduced a few months ago, Season 5 is almost over, and the most recent Fortnite battle pass is running out. Even though the Fortnite 5.4 update landed recently, players are turning their gaze to the sixth season already.

Introducing Fortnite season 6: all you need to know

The official Fortnite Season 6 release date for is September 20th, and there have been no pre-release betas, so we aren’t totally sure what kind of content the new season will pack. But there have been some significant Fortnite Season 6 leaks already, and here are a few things we’ve learned.

The Fortnite Cube

Present on Fortnite maps for weeks running up to the release of Season 6, this mysterious purple cube has sparked endless rumors about its purpose, while it moves around dispensing strange “runes.” It looks likely to play a big role in the action in the upcoming season.

Lava is on the way

According to leaks, the developers will be adding a volcanic component to Season 6, so eruptions could play a role in the Battle Royale action. The early signs are that this could come from somewhere below Loot Lake.

Mirror, Mirror

Leaked footage also shows an in-game character touching the cube, only to see themselves mirrored inside it, in a twisted form. So there could be some kind of mirroring game mechanic at work, although exactly how this is introduced into the gameplay isn’t clear.

New skins are coming

As ever, there will be some cosmetic tweaks for fans to enjoy. Fortnite season 6 leaks suggest that additions will include a character resembling Guns n Roses guitarist Slash, various medics, a Deadpool-style character, and what seems to be a teenage girl.

New vehicles

Players will also be able to get around the Fortnite map with new tools like a medical helicopter, a version of the Delorean from “Back to the Future” and a couple of fantasy-influenced gliders.

More weapons to master

Gamers will also have plenty of new ways to kill their enemies, from scythes and pick axes, to axes. And there will also be a couple of extra items to use: a microphone and a medical kit, which might provide clues about the new season’s theme.

Brand new back bling

These clues extend to new items for players to carry around, which include an 80s style keyboard, a drum kit, a medi-pack, and a suitcase with hand-cuffs attached.

Can we expect new themes from Fortnite this season?

As the leaks above suggest, Season 6 could well represent a massive departure for the (relatively young) game. From what we know, Fortnite season 6 looks likely to have a couple of new themes.

Firstly, there’s a clear medical theme running through the leaked skins and items. So it’s a fair bet to assume that players will have added healing abilities and that the medic Support Squadron will play a big role in the team dynamic going forward.

But the second theme could be more exciting. Fortnite’s PR team have released images linking the new update to the world of rock music. This could relate to new challenges, or it could be something more fundamental.

Finally, there’s that darn cube. The smart money is that the cube conceals a volcanic underworld, where mirroring is a gameplay feature. But who knows? It’s going to be fun to find out.

Is a Fortnite battle pass value for money?

The Fortnite battle pass allows players to earn rewards throughout the season by completing challenges and taking part in Battle Royale matches. Rewards don’t tend to be game-changing, and are usually things like skins or emotes, but they can make the game more fun for regular players, and they are a status symbol that all serious Fortnite fans crave.

Battle passes are divided into the “free pass” and the “premium pass”, which comes with a seasonal price tag, and each pass expires with the end of the season. This means that as Season 6 begins, millions of Fortnite Battle Royale fans will ask themselves whether the Fortnite battle pass is worth buying.

The answer depends on how seriously you take Fortnite. Premium passes allow players to try a wider range of challenges, which makes the multiplayer action more varied. And premium pass holders also get much better rewards than free pass holders. In a game where humor plays a big role, getting hold of the best outfits and items can really put a smile on your face.

In the sixth season, the battle pass is expected to cost around $10 (or 950 V-Bucks), and it’s definitely worth the outlay if you are really into the game.

Can you play Fortnite season 6 across different platforms?

In the past, one of the big gripes against Fortnite has been issues with playing the game across different platforms. Crossplay has been a real sore spot for fans, with complaints from XBox One and PS4 owners alike.

But when it comes to problems with Fortnite cross-platform PS4 manufacturers Sony have been seen as the big villains here. In June, it emerged that thousands of PlayStation users had been denied the chance to use their Fortnite accounts on Nintendo Switch or XBox systems.

Seeking to minimize migration from their console, Sony had locked their accounts, forcing Epic Games to make cross-play impossible. So Fortnite PS4 players can’t match up against friends using many other platforms.

Cross play with Microsoft’s flagship console is out of the question for PS4 players, although playing against PC and mobile seems to be no problem.

For instance, there are known Fortnite cross-platform PS4 issues when playing against Nintendo Switch users. And there are even bigger issues for people wondering whether can XBox and PS4 play Fortnite together. Crossplay with Microsoft’s flagship console is out of the question for PS4 players, although playing against PC and mobile gamers seems to be no problem.

At the same time, it’s worth stressing that few issues had been uncovered regarding crossplay between XBoxes, PCs and iOS phones. So Sony have some questions to answer for Fortnite PS4 users, and they still seem unwilling to relent. And they’ve been mercilessly criticized by high-profile gaming vloggers like Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, piling on the pressure to find a solution. So there’s a good chance that Fortnite Season 6 will see a resolution to the crossplay saga. Keep an eye out for updates.

What are the differences between playing Fortnite on the PSN+?

Aside from the crossplay issues, there have also been questions about the different Fortnite PS4 experience. The reason for the controversy is that Epic recently announced special loot for PSN+ members only. So ordinary PS4 owners could miss out unless they pay for a beefed-up PSN subscription.

The product in question is the Celebration Pack #3, and it’s an attractive package. Offering new items like pickaxes, a new glider to soar above the map and visual tricks like multicolored contrails while you fly, the Celebration Pack is a real enhancement.

None of this will be available for XBox, PC or Nintendo players, but with PSN+ subscriptions costing $50 or more per year, even PS3 owners might think twice. After all, the additions are mostly cosmetic, so the core gameplay will remain absolutely identical whether you download the pack or not.

Get ready for multiplayer craziness when Fortnite Season 6 lands

In the Fortnite community, a new season is definitely cause for celebration, and it’s a great opportunity to hone our skills and start afresh. Season 6 is likely to offer some of the quirkiest, more off-the-wall Fortnite action yet, and when the Fortnite Season 6 release date arrives on 20th September, it’s unlikely to disappoint.

But as we’ve seen, there still some issues surrounding the game. Even after the 5.4 update, the answer to the question can XBox and PS4 play Fortnite together remains no. Crossplay has become a real problem, and hopefully Epic will find a way around this as the sixth season begins.

Then again, cross-play doesn’t affect most of us, and even if it does, it’s not the end of the world. So choose a skin, suit up and get ready to be dropped into another round of mayhem. Fortnite’s back and zanier than ever.

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