Fortnite: Save the World is finally free-to-play

Epic Games has announced that Fortnite’s original mode, Save the World, is now free for all players. This marks an important milestone for the co-op survival game, which has long since stopped getting the attention it once did. Save the World is all about completing objectives across various open-world maps, where players build and use traps to defend themselves against different monsters.

What does Save the World offer?

Now that Save the World is free, it will become one of the main modes available in the lobby’s Discovery section. Epic is celebrating the change with crossover quests in Battle Royale, offering rewards in the form of XP and cosmetic items, including a free skin that can be used across the entire Fortnite universe.

Players can complete three quests for the Jess NPC on the Battle Royale island to unlock the ability to purchase the Super Shredder weapon. After completing twelve quests, players receive the schematic version of the Super Shredder weapon for Save the World. In addition, players who earn 350,000 XP in Save the World can unlock the Jess skin.

The history of Save the World

When Fortnite launched in July 2017, Save the World was the only mode available, priced at $40. However, after disappointing sales, Epic Games quickly shifted focus to a new mode, which led to the development of the now immensely popular Battle Royale. That pivot proved crucial and transformed Fortnite into a global sensation.

Despite the high expectations and the paid mode on offer, Save the World failed to attract a broad audience. As Battle Royale grew in popularity, Save the World was largely forgotten, with only a loyal group of players using the mode to level up their Battle Pass.

The future of Save the World

Now that the game is available for free, questions remain about future support for Save the World. The mode is currently not available on mobile devices, cloud streaming, or the original Nintendo Switch. Optimizing the game for those platforms would require significant effort, especially given Epic Games’ recent layoffs in March.

If player numbers continue to rise, new content could still be added. Otherwise, it seems unlikely that Epic will invest in new story missions, maps, or other major updates for the mode.