Fortnite has simply concluded a shocking reside occasion that noticed the sport’s storyline propelled ahead in dramatic model, with a shock defeat for Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s heroic character, and an eye-popping unmasking of his ally performed by Ben Starr.
Epic Video games’ battle royale is now in downtime following the occasions of Shattered, the long-awaited conclusion to its newest season that noticed gamers resolve the destiny of a months-long grudge match between Johnson’s The Basis and his frosty rival The Ice King.
Shattered was distinctive because it provided two completely separate narrative viewpoints from which to view its occasions, relying on whether or not you’d beforehand backed The Basis or The Ice King over the course of the season. Gamers who backed The Basis started the occasion in a bunker with trusty ally The Customer (performed by Clair Obscur’s Ben Starr) and long-time Fortnite protagonist Jonesy, choosing up banter and clues to the mission forward. Gamers who picked The Ice King, in the meantime, bought a glimpse into his wintry fortress, and realized extra about his mission to serve the sport’s present main antagonist, The Darkish Voyager.
As the 2 groups moved towards one another, gamers briefly got here into fight — although the fireworks had been actually reserved for the showdown between The Basis and The Ice King themselves, which gamers may comply with close-up as they smashed up one another and large chunks of the Fortnite battle royal Island. In the end, The Basis misplaced — no matter crew, gamers had been knowledgeable on display that the general winner of the season was not the previous WWE star — and due to that, gamers noticed him frozen strong, his final destiny left unsure. The Ice King fared no higher in the long run, nonetheless, as he was double-crossed by The Darkish Voyager, and seemingly decreased to atoms.
It is attention-grabbing to ponder how the pair might need fared if gamers picked The Basis to win. Would their fates have been comparable, someway? Both approach, each characters have been taken off the board, for now.
Shattered concluded with gamers witnessing Fortnite’s long-term macguffin, the Zero Level, reforged simply in time to fully revamp the sport’s map — a mid-year refresh of a form by no means seen in Fortnite earlier than. Narratively, it is a cool thought and becoming with the Zero Level’s return. Mechanically, it is also an indication Epic Video games could also be eager to maintain its sport feeling brisker than ever as participant numbers decline.
However probably the most surprising a part of the occasion was nonetheless to return, as Jonesy mirrored on its occasions and realized one thing fishy was occurring… just for trusty ally The Customer to take away his helmet and reveal himself to really be Geno — the last word villain of Fortnite by no means correctly glimpsed in-game earlier than, however teased in different reside occasions and depicted in spinoff comedian books. Geno is a determine that followers have wished to lastly see since his title was initially referenced 5 years in the past. The boss of the Imagined Order, the creator of the Oathbound, his title is legend amongst Fortnite lore followers… and now he’s right here, as Fortnite begins its subsequent season in just some hours’ time.
On social media, followers have reacted with reward for the reside occasion, which featured extra gameplay and narrative surprises than another in latest reminiscence. Starr, in the meantime, has revelled in confirming his function as Geno going ahead (and sure, when he appeared tonight at Summer time Recreation Fest, he was certainly carrying a pin teasing his character’s true identification).
For individuals who need to watch the reside occasion, you may watch its introduction from each groups’ perspective above, with its primary gameplay then additionally watchable from the perspective of each Team Foundation and Team Ice King.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s Information Editor. You’ll be able to attain Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or discover him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social