Fortniteplayers are discovering that a particular skin variant provides a distinct competitive advantage. Many fans of the game are calling it a “pay-to-win” skin, and are demanding its removal.
Initially released during Chapter 2, Season 4, developer Epic Games gives players the option of using a customizable superhero skin. The cosmetic was released as part ofFortnite’s Marvel-themed crossover, which introduced many comic book heroes and villains along with correlated points of interest. The Marvel presence is continuing to grow in the battle royale into this current season withthe addition of Black Panther.
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The skins in question giveFortniteplayers the ability to choose between several different styles and colors. Of all the available colors, the all-black version is a monochrome outfit that makes it nearly impossible to be seen in dark areas of the map. Twitter account Fortnite News posted a screenshot inside a structure saying, “Let’s play spot the superhero skin!” The image shows a barely discernible player crouched in a dark corner of the room with the only somewhat visible part being their legs, made possible by the lighter-colored baseboard.
Though not as effective asthe Season 5 quicksand bug, players are next to impossible to spot when quickly sweeping a room. While PC players can alleviate the issue by turning off shadows, console players cannot. This isn’t lost on competitive players, who promptly began using the all-black cosmetic to gain an edge on competitors. This led to many in theFortnitecommunity declaring it a “pay to win” skin, and they are now demanding a nerf or altogether removal from the game.
The issue goes beyond just corners inside of buildings. The all-black superhero skin gains an advantage basically anywhere there is significant shadow. Despite the problems with this particular skin recently coming to light, the issue of “pay to win” skins is somethingFortnitehas been criticized about before. Last month,three differentFortniteskinswere also accused of being “pay to win.” Part of Operation Snowdown, the holiday-themed skins have been enabling players to blend in with similar surroundings.
Players hope the multiple advantageous skins will either be altered or removed sooner than later. It’s possible that a broader patch could roll out in early 2021 alongside a new feature that lets players toggle pre-build edits. AlthoughFortniteremains extremely popular, there is a portion of the gaming community disinterested in the game. Those looking for a different free-to-play shooter can check outStar Wars Battlefront 2: Celebration Edition,which will be freenext week on the Epic Games Store.
Fortniteis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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