Improve Bot AI
One of the ways Epic improved Fortnite towards the end of Chapter 1 was to introduce AI bots into games. In doing so, Epic has not only ensured players find themselves in a game with 99 others more often, but it also enables them to play in an environment that matches their skill level.
The combination of your skill level and implementation of AI bots into games means players aren’t coming up against others who are ridiculously worse or better at the game than them. A more balanced playing field is a happier playing field, after all.
The problem is, despite Epic’s best efforts to ensure bots don’t sick out like a sore thumb… they absolutely stick out like a sore thumb. They harvest through walls like their life depended on it, even if there’s a door right next to them. They’ll stand and seldom build when in combat, and generally walk around awkwardly.
In 2020 Epic needs to put some work into improving bots. While I’m not expecting human-like play, something a little less ‘dumb’ would certainly go a long way. Building basic structures when coming under fire, and not hacking through every wall they see would be a good start.
Don’t Be Afraid to Mix Things Up
Ways Fortnite Can Improve in 2020
The most substantial change in Fortnite’s 11-season history has to be the transition from Chapter 1 into Chapter 2 that players are currently still in the first season of. In setting itself up for this clean break, Epic allowed itself to rewrite what players knew about Fortnite. Making massive, sweeping changes and visual overhauls to help the battle royale experience feel reinvigorated.
Prior to that, things were starting to get stale. The map wasn’t exciting as it once was, the arsenal of weapons was kind of all over the show, and challenges had started to really wane.
Chapter 2 begins and Epic brings an entire new map, streamlines the weapon choices, refines the XP and leveling system, adds new gameplay mechanics like swimming, fishing, weapon upgrades, landmarks and medals, and in doing so, reinvigorates the game.
Players that were long done with Fortnite returned to check out what was new, and long-term fans continued playing because at its heart, it was still Fortnite.
While I don’t expect a similar-sized overhaul in 2020 for Fortnite, there’s certainly room for Epic to experiment more and try new things. As long as the core, battle royale gameplay remains, fans will likely keep coming back. The world is there oyster, and if something does go awry, the frequency at which Epic updates the game will ensure it won’t stay broken for too long.
More Regular Epic Crossovers
Ways Fortnite Can Improve in 2020
In 2019 we saw Avengers, Borderlands, Batman and Star Wars to name a few make their way into the world of Fortnite. Be it an event, special challenges, a visual overhaul to the game, new weapons, or a combination of all of these things, these crossover events have been some of the highlights of the battle royale king over the past year.
Moving forward into 2020, we’d love to see Epic try and branch out even further with these crossovers, finding new and unique ways of implementing iconic pop culture IP into the Fortnite experience.
With the likes of Cyberpunk 2077, Final Fantasy VII Remake, The Last of Us Part 2, Resident Evil 3 Remake, and movies Birds of Prey, The Mutants, and Black Widow all releasing in 2020 to name a few, there are properties ripe for the Fortnite picking.
More regular crossover events would help to keep things feeling fresh, even in the middle of a season. A limited-time event here, a random assortment of challenges there, and players have new reasons to log-in every day aside from the same old battle royale gameplay.
Bigger and Better Live Events
Ways Fortnite Can Improve in 2020
I won’t lie, I feel like a bit of an ungrateful ass for this entry, but at least hear me out. Epic Games has been doing some sublime work with Fortnite’s live events. From the now-iconic black hole event, to the monster vs. mech fight, and the meteor strike that started it all off, these live events have truly made Fortnite stand out from the crowd. In 2020, it’s time to leave the competition in the dust.
For the most part, these events have simply required players to stand around and spectate something going on. It’s cool, especially when it’s watching two behemoths tearing up the massive island you’ve called home for the past 9 seasons or so. But what if you could get involved in the action?
Perhaps for a moment players could be transported into the cockpit of some sort of spaceship or vehicle and could blast one another or incoming ships out of the sky… perhaps meteors to fit in more with the ‘lore’ of the game so to speak.
Alternatively, what if all 100 players had to scour the island and decipher clues to track down a hidden item before a timer runs out. If more games of players find the item within the time limit, they save the day and we get outcome. If more games of players fail, some beloved named location goes bye bye.
Perhaps that’d be a bit extreme, but something that gets players involved and has some kind of reward or repercussion for succeeding and failing feels like the next logical step for Fortnite’s live events to take.
Battle Pass Promotion
Ways Fortnite Can Improve in 2020
This isn’t anything massive in terms of Fortnite’s gameplay, but it’s something Epic did before, and they should definitely look at doing again.
Back in Season 8, anyone who completed all 13 of the Overtime challenges that popped up at the end of the season for a week or two could net themselves a free Season 9 Battle Pass. A Battle Pass normally costs about $9.99, and offers tons of cosmetic rewards for leveling it up.
Whether Epic offers a free Battle Pass to anyone who logs in on day one of a new season, or puts a prerequisite in-place such as the Overtime challenges we’ve seen in the past, giving people a reason to be more invested in the XP grind will certainly help player numbers.
Plus, it might just drag in some new players, which can never be a bad thing.
How would you like to see Fortnite improve in 2020? Let us know down in the comments below.
Published: Jan 16, 2020 04:42 am