Fortnite players have long demanded a first-person mode for Epic’s popular shooter, and thanks to a video from YouTube’s DanMak, now we can see what that might look like. The concept uses 3D imaging software and is not a reflection of actual Fortnite gameplay.
With that caveat in mind, the footage looks very convincing. The 30-second demo shows a SCAR rifle being fired near Loot Lake on the Battle Royale map. The footage perfectly captures all key buildings, environments, idle animations and UI elements, but we don’t get to see the gun actually fire. Limitations aside, the clip has garnered more than 18,000 views since being posted on Sunday, suggesting this is something the Fortnite faithful are hungry for.
Unfortunately, Epic has already gone on record to say that a first-person mode like the one shown above probably won’t be coming to Battle Royale anytime soon. On the game’s official FAQ page, studio representatives confirm “we are not planning to add a first-person mode at this time [because] we don’t feel it fits with the design style of Fortnite.” It’s possible Epic may revisit this subject in the future, but it’s definitely not in the development pipeline today.
That hasn’t stopped the game’s community from musing about the possibilities, though. After all, most of its Battle Royale contemporaries, like PUBG ad H1Z1, offer some kind of first-person alternative. The key aspect that makes Fortnite different, however, is its building features. Especially as the base meta continues to evolve, players are constantly finding unique ways for squads and solos to get the drop on unsuspecting enemies. More complex creations absolutely require having the full camera view only third-person can allow. That’s likely why Epic feels first-person doesn’t mesh with the project’s “design style.”
There’s also the matter of advantages and disadvantages between perspectives to consider. While first-person might be considered a more immersive way to play, it also obstructs vision in ways third-person doesn’t. Simply put, those playing in third would have an easier time spotting enemies than those playing in first. A couple possible solutions would be to offer freely swappable perspectives or to have dedicated first-person servers. Considering the countless networking issues Epic is still trying to nail down in Fortnite’s current build, the latter option is most certainly off the table.
Maybe Dan’s video will inspire a fearless modder to create something inspired by this concept, but it’s definitely not something you’d want to use online. Not only would you face a possible account ban, but you’d probably lose nearly every encounter that came your way. If first-person Fortnite is ever going to happen, the developers must support it.
Fortnite is available now on PS4, Xbox One and PC.
Would you be willing to play Fortnite in first-person? Can it even be done? Tell us in the comments section!
