Fall Guys in Fortnite: The Beginning of a Bean-tastic Journey

This week has already been a whirlwind for Fortnite fans, with the Paradigm causing a stir in the item shop and changes to Battle Pass exclusivity. But the excitement doesn't stop there. A countdown timer on the battle royale map teases a major event on Saturday, followed by a Disney collaboration showcase at D23 later that evening. Amidst all this, it's easy to overlook the arrival of Fall Guys in the Fortnite universe.

However, this is just the initial phase of the Fall Guys integration. For now, players can experience Fall Guys-style mini-games within Fortnite. The most prominent feature is a limited-time Fall Guys obstacle course suspended above Classy Courts on the battle royale map. Players drop near the Courts, interact with a bean statue, and race through the course for loot.

The faster you complete the course, the better your rewards. While other players are present, the focus remains on individual performance, unlike the direct competition in the original Fall Guys.

Creative maps, developed by Mediatonic, offer Fortnite interpretations of popular Fall Guys games. Tumbly Towers, for instance, presents a creative map where players climb a towering structure, complete with signature bean physics. The Fortnite version of Hex-a-Gone has been re-engineered, with platforms respawning after a few seconds to extend rounds and allow mid-match entry.

Despite resembling Fall Guys, these experiences lack the full game-show structure. While a complete integration of Fall Guys into Fortnite is likely, Epic and Mediatonic face significant hurdles.

Firstly, the current Unreal Engine for Fortnite (UEFN) tools might not support the multi-round structure required for a true Fall Guys experience. A dedicated mode, comparable to Fortnite Festival, Lego Fortnite, and Rocket Racing, is needed, which takes time. Speculation points to a potential launch alongside Chapter 6, expected in December.

The delay in the initial Fall Guys rollout, initially slated for earlier in the summer, raises concerns about a swift full integration in the coming months.

Secondly, the issue of Fall Guys cosmetics remains unresolved. Currently, cosmetics don't transfer between the two games. In Fortnite, players are transformed into bean characters while participating in Fall Guys maps, but their existing Fortnite skins are applied. Fall Guys boasts a vast collection of cosmetics, distinct from Fortnite's head-to-toe skin system. Bringing these cosmetics to Fortnite would require a dedicated section in the locker for bean customisation.

Collaborations like the Godzilla skin might not be directly transferable, but Epic's approach with Rocket League cosmetics shows that gradual integration is possible.

Despite the challenges, the eventual integration of Fall Guys as a full-fledged game mode within Fortnite seems inevitable. The game's diverse pass system could readily accommodate a Fall Guys season pass, and the core gameplay mechanics have been effectively translated. The foundation is laid; now, the remaining elements need to be put in place.

Here's hoping the full integration won't be too far away, offering players an even more expansive and exciting Fortnite experience.