CARY – Epic Games is slowing development of “Save the World,” which is part of its globally popular and big money-making Fortnite. Furhter, players will have to pay to play. And global reaction to the move is mixed.
“Today we’re bringing Save the World out of Early Access and have decided that it will remain a premium experience rather than going free-to-play” Epic’s Fortnite team wrote in a blog post published Tuesday.
“Development of new content will slow down after this official release, but the adventure doesn’t end here for Save the World.”
However, some tech news sites and writers took umbrage at the news. Some samples:
- Fortnite Save the World dead? Epic ditches free-to-play plans and slows future updates
- Fortnite Save the World is Good as Dead – And It’s Epic’s Fault
- Fortnite Ditches Early Access Label, Slows Development Of Save The World Mode
Fortnite, which launched almost three years ago, is also entering into a new “season” of play with additional features, stories, tools and much more.
“Save the World” is described by Epic as “an epic PvE [player vs. environment] action-building co-op campaign. Build huge forts, find loot, level up your Heroes and battle monster hordes!”
“DISCOVER THE EPIC PVE ACTION-BUILDING CO-OPERATIVE CAMPAIGN. YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS BATTLE TO HOLD BACK THE MONSTER HORDES AND EXPLORE A VAST, DESTRUCTIBLE WORLD WHERE NO TWO GAMES ARE EVER THE SAME. BUILD HUGE FORTS, CRAFT WEAPONS, FIND LOOT AND LEVEL UP YOUR HEROES.”
Epic Games
Cary-based Epic pointed out that paying members “will have their Founder’s Packs upgraded to the next level and unlock all the rewards included in the upgraded pack… free, courtesy of Homebase! Ultimate Edition owners will be granted the new Metal Team Leader Pack and 8,000 V-Bucks.”
However, Epic points out that in the coming months “Save the World will no longer be able to support all upcoming Fortnite Battle Royale cosmetic purchases, but your existing library of cosmetics will continue to function in both modes. We’ll let everyone know via the Homebase Status Report when this change will take place.”
Fortnite has helped make privately held Epic worth several billion dollars, according to media reports.
Recent Epic Games coverage from WRAL TechWire
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