While my coworkers can’t get enough of single-player experiences, I’ve always been a die-hard fan of live-service games. I’ve found a particular fondness for Battle Passes, whether it’s the first Dota 2 compendium I purchased or the Fortnite Battle Pass. There’s just something about gamifying your quests that makes the whole experience more enjoyable.
However, I’ve started to feel overwhelmed by the recent developments in Fortnite. With the addition of the Star Wars update, the game now boasts four simultaneous battle passes! Even I have to admit, that’s a bit excessive. Why is this an issue? Let’s dive into that.
Battle Pass in Fortnite: A Summary
Fortnite Battle Royale, the game’s most popular mode, introduced its first Seasonal Battle Pass back in Season 2. The idea was simple: two versions of the Battle Pass were available, one for players who preferred not to spend money and received fewer rewards, and another for those who purchased the premium pass for V-bucks.
However, the mechanics of Fortnite’s Battle Passes are a bit different. While buying levels in a Battle Pass is a common concept, Fortnite takes it a step further by introducing Quest Packs. This system requires you to purchase a seasonal EPIC Level Up Quest Pack from the Item Shop for 1,850 V-Bucks, which seems rather excessive.
While you can still buy individual levels, these passes are designed to incentivize more gameplay to earn rewards, rather than providing them immediately after purchase, even if you’ve paid extra.
As if that weren’t enough, Fortnite also incorporates Event Pass collaborations. Previously, Fortnite would release an Event Pass for players to grind for free rewards or purchase premium skins from the shop. Now, with collaboration events, you’re required to grind both the Battle Pass and the Event Pass simultaneously to earn rewards. It’s a strange setup, isn’t it? But wait, there’s more.
Now, there are two additional battle passes available in the game: one for the Fortnite Festival and one for LEGO Fortnite. If you’re eager to show off your colorful Lady Gaga or Billie Eilish collaboration skins, you’ll need to purchase the Fortnite Festival bundle.
On the other hand, diving into LEGO Fortnite means investing in and grinding through the LEGO Pass for numerous in-game rewards. Even for exclusive collaborations like Star Wars with LEGO Fortnite, you’ll need the LEGO Pass—and yes, you’ll need to grind for that as well!
Okay, So What’s the Problem Here?
Certainly, a game is free to sell as many micro-transaction items as it pleases. The challenge emerges when you must grind through each battle pass separately to obtain the rewards you desire. This raises a crucial question: is it worthwhile to acquire all the battle passes simultaneously, knowing you might not finish them all?
The answer is nuanced and hinges on your enthusiasm for each game mode in Fortnite. Regrettably, not all quests are universal in Fortnite, meaning you’ll need to engage with specific game modes to complete certain levels.
This raises the question of whether Epic could have consolidated the Battle Passes or reduced the grind in other passes. If I’m investing in a premium Event Pass, I wouldn’t want to spend all my time grinding for rewards. Why not just buy my favorite skins from the shop instead?
However, this is only feasible if Epic provides that option. By continuously pushing players to purchase different Battle Passes within the same game, Epic runs the risk of diminishing interest in other game modes and frustrating players. We’ve already witnessed declines in player bases for LEGO Fortnite and Rocket Racing. Let’s hope this downward trend doesn’t spread to the rest of the game!
There was a time when I could sit back and spam emotes without a care in the world. However, with Fortnite introducing so many battle passes in such a short span of time, it feels like there’s no longer time for emotes—just grinding!
What do you think about Fortnite having four battle passes? Do you believe Epic could merge them for a more streamlined experience? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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