The biggest changes in Fortnite Chapter 4

Guides
By last updated

Fortnite Chapter 4 is here and a lot has changed in the battle royale

Fortnite Chapter 4
(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite Chapter 4 has arrived, somewhat earlier than expected as the previous chapter only ran over four seasons rather than the usual eight or ten, but there are plenty of big changes to experience in the battle royale. Fortnite now runs on Unreal Engine 5.1, so if you're playing on new-gen consoles or PC then the increase in visual quality is quite astounding. There's also a fresh map to explore, new mechanics to get to grips with, and an additional vehicle to race around on, so if you want to catch up on the latest developments then let us guide you through all of the biggest changes in Fortnite Chapter 4.

Fortnite Chapter 4 has a brand new island

Fortnite Chapter 4

(Image credit: Epic Games)

A new chapter means a brand new island to explore, and this provides a mixture of settings from medieval forests and castles to snowy peaks and grassy pastures. Players who've been around since the beginning of the battle royale will appreciate the return of farmland, which used to make up several key locations but hasn't been seen since Chapter 2.

Fortnite now runs on Unreal Engine 5.1

Fortnite Chapter 4

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite Chapter 4 sees the game switch over to Unreal Engine 5.1 on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, which means the battle royale now looks a whole lot prettier! Next-gen features such as Nanite, Lumen, Virtual Shadow Maps, and Temporal Super Resolution are now available, and while that may all sound complicated the main takeaway is that everything is now much more detailed, with significantly improved lighting and shadows.

You can apply Reality Augments for a boost 

Fortnite Augments and how to activate them

(Image credit: Epic Games)

At regular intervals during a match you'll be prompted to choose between two random Fortnite Augments to activate, which provide you with certain perks such as not consuming fuel while driving vehicles or pinging nearby enemy locations whenever the Storm moves. You can stack up to four of these, and if you choose wisely (and get a little luck with your options) then they can be a real game changer.

Dirt Bikes are the latest vehicles added

Fortnite Chapter 4

(Image credit: Epic Games)

If you want to get around the island quicker, then Fortnite Dirt Bikes are the ideal solution as they're lightweight and can easily cross a variety of terrains. Handily you can aim and fire your selected weapon while riding, so you don't need to switch to the passenger seat to take on any nearby enemies, and you can also perform stunts while leaping through the air.

There are plenty of new weapons to choose from

Fortnite Chapter 4

(Image credit: Epic Games)

As always with a fresh season, there are plenty of Fortnite new weapons to master including the return of a red-eye assault rifle with first-person aiming for greater accuracy. The Ex-Caliber Rifle fires a ballistic blade which sticks to targets then explodes to deal double damage, and the Fortnite Shockwave Hammer delivers huge melee hits while also letting you bounce over large distances. Keep a lookout for Fortnite Oathbound Chests for your best chance of finding these new armaments.

Iain Wilson
Iain Wilson
Guides Editor

Iain originally joined Future in 2012 to write guides for CVG, PSM3, and Xbox World, before moving on to join GamesRadar in 2013 as Guides Editor. His words have also appeared in OPM, OXM, PC Gamer, GamesMaster, and SFX. He is better known to many as ‘Mr Trophy’, due to his slightly unhealthy obsession with amassing intangible PlayStation silverware, and he now has well over 900 Platinum pots weighing down the shelves of his virtual award cabinet. He does not care for Xbox Achievements.