Fortnite Chapter 4 has arrived, somewhat earlier than expected as the previous chapter only ran over four seasons rather than the usual eight or ten, but there are plenty of big changes to experience in the battle royale. Fortnite now runs on Unreal Engine 5.1, so if you're playing on new-gen consoles or PC then the increase in visual quality is quite astounding. There's also a fresh map to explore, new mechanics to get to grips with, and an additional vehicle to race around on, so if you want to catch up on the latest developments then let us guide you through all of the biggest changes in Fortnite Chapter 4.
Fortnite Chapter 4 has a brand new island
A new chapter means a brand new island to explore, and this provides a mixture of settings from medieval forests and castles to snowy peaks and grassy pastures. Players who've been around since the beginning of the battle royale will appreciate the return of farmland, which used to make up several key locations but hasn't been seen since Chapter 2.
Fortnite now runs on Unreal Engine 5.1
Fortnite Chapter 4 sees the game switch over to Unreal Engine 5.1 on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, which means the battle royale now looks a whole lot prettier! Next-gen features such as Nanite, Lumen, Virtual Shadow Maps, and Temporal Super Resolution are now available, and while that may all sound complicated the main takeaway is that everything is now much more detailed, with significantly improved lighting and shadows.
You can apply Reality Augments for a boost
At regular intervals during a match you'll be prompted to choose between two random Fortnite Augments to activate, which provide you with certain perks such as not consuming fuel while driving vehicles or pinging nearby enemy locations whenever the Storm moves. You can stack up to four of these, and if you choose wisely (and get a little luck with your options) then they can be a real game changer.
Dirt Bikes are the latest vehicles added
If you want to get around the island quicker, then Fortnite Dirt Bikes are the ideal solution as they're lightweight and can easily cross a variety of terrains. Handily you can aim and fire your selected weapon while riding, so you don't need to switch to the passenger seat to take on any nearby enemies, and you can also perform stunts while leaping through the air.
There are plenty of new weapons to choose from
As always with a fresh season, there are plenty of Fortnite new weapons to master including the return of a red-eye assault rifle with first-person aiming for greater accuracy. The Ex-Caliber Rifle fires a ballistic blade which sticks to targets then explodes to deal double damage, and the Fortnite Shockwave Hammer delivers huge melee hits while also letting you bounce over large distances. Keep a lookout for Fortnite Oathbound Chests for your best chance of finding these new armaments.
