Fortnite Players On Switch Will No Longer Be Matched With Xbox One And PS4 Cross-Play Parties

Well honestly it makes sense though im not a fan of Fortnite.

After playing a few rounds last night, it’s incredible the difference. Me and my buddy on Switch were crushing it, it was like we’d been Goku and took of our weighted training jackets! It makes sense, but they haven’t made it clear wether mobile players using touch are included or not, as they are at a severe disadvantage against players with Pro Controllers.

But on certain mobiles it can run at 60fps. The Switch version doesn't even hold 30fps most of the time, it's just bad. They said they disabled recording to improve performance, but performance hasn't improved at all. I pretty much only play it on Xbox One X as it's not a fun experience on Switch.

@electrogeist Uh what?

This is a shame, but it should give me a slight edge.

Haha, nice. I'll be trying this again now I will have a clear advantage

@Dpullam hey that's my line

I'm not a Fornite fan, but I believe people who paid for the season pass will be pissed off with the news.

Makes sense. This will make it more fair

@edgedino Haha sorry 😁

@electrogeist I hate Fortnite as much as the next guy but I wouldn't wish ill will on any developer willing to create a more balanced experience for players. From what I've heard, the devs are incredibly quick on the trigger as far as quality-of-life updates are concerned. You've got a pretty aggressive attitude lmao, did one of the devs attack you personally or something?

Fortnite is already far and away the most popular multiplayer game on the Switch so the audience is large enough for consistent play without the aid of its console peers, though I think a more appropriate workaround would be to give Switch players the option to toggle playing with other console players or just playing with Switch/mobile players (not too dissimilar from Paladins allowing you to play with controller and keyboard players of Xbox and PC platforms or just controller players).

Welp, now I can't play with the rest of my family. That's fun...

@AlternateButtons

Not so much a matter of "optimization" as it would be downgrading the Xbox and PS4 versions to level the playing field with the Switch.

Doesn't Rocket League give you options as to what platform(s) you want to get paired up with? Why couldn't they do something similar here? Give Switch players the choice if they want to play across all platforms but with a slight disadvantage.

Might give it another try now, but probably not now that I see what I’m typing...

@Azikira this doesn’t stop you from playing with friends or family cross-platform; this only keeps random matchmaking in the Mobile/Switch pool. You can still play with Xbox/PS4/PC friends.

This is interesting. How graphically powerful is the switch? Is it as powerful as a PS3? Just wondering.

So here’s a question. If I join my kid’s Switch party from my PC, where do we go? Do we still queue against PC players?

@T1ck_T0ck - yes, you’ll get put in the PC pool; it’ll depend if you get put in the PC&keyboard or PC&controller pool depending on what you’re playing with.

@electrogeist

No offense, but that’s just childish. The developers put a lot of work into the game and, even though it really isn’t my cup of tea, people are enjoying it. Why wish failure on people who have devoted their time and energy to this? I don’t get it.

@stiligFox That’s what I thought, thank you for confirming!

If damage is tied to frame rate, you're doing it wrong

I have had no major issues playing it on switch and have won several matches. That being said, it’s a boring game and I just don’t understand its popularity. You can spend entire match not seeing anyone, get 1 kill and win.

Even Fortnite on mobile runs at 60fps...

@Donutman While I don't disagree about your opinion of the game that can be applied to other battle royale games as well.

Sooo let’s level the playing field by kicking a console to play with the group who play on mobile who have a high likelihood of not having a controller. Seems fair 🤷‍♂️

I don't like Fortnite personally, so I don't care. But I could see how this would upset people who do like the game. Then again, I have to imagine that if you are a real serious Fortnite player, you want to play it on the best possible platform - and that would be a powerful gaming PC.

The Switch is my favorite gaming platform by a landslide, because I value the exclusive content and versatility of the platform, but no question in my mind that if you want the best performance for a multi-platform title, you obviously would go with a dedicated gaming PC.

@WagnerDDS Why? This has nothing to do with the battle pass. You can still play with PS4 and Xbox players. All this means is if you do random squads, you wont be in the PS4 and Xbox pools.

Well this is disappointing... I wish other changes could have been made to prevent this drastic change.

@WagnerDDS I’ve got the pass, and I’m not bothered by this. The two things aren’t even related in my mind.

not a big fan of fortnite tbh, but at least people wont get unfair games

So long as we can party up on Switch with Xbone and PS4 players who you're friends with then I'm easy going. I'm not fussed about strangers, but me and a whole bunch of people I play with do crossplay all the time. I have two TV's in my living room, two Xbones AND a Switch precisely for this reason. Three man squads in the living room make for awesome sessions.

Game was garbage no matter how many update it received.

i'm not much into the battle royal games as alot people are. but i'd be pretty upset if i played Fortnite BR that much on switch.

So now PS4 owners have a more complete crossplay implementation than Switch players. You can't make this stuff up.

A blurry awful version regardless. Best thing about it was you could delete and go back to PC easily.

Even on Mobile, better just getting a $19 MFi controller and taking advantage of the 24/7 Internet access on iPhone.

This will be seen as the equivalent of the kids eating at their own table at Thanksgiving. This is extremely disrespectful to the Switch, who are no doubt going to be thought less of by the other console owners.

@Agramonte Not sure what you mean by that. It's no more or less complete, it just got knocked down a server. If anything, it'd be more complete now because it is possible to play in all 3 servers, while it's impossible for a PS4 player to play in the mobile server

This is good news. I had almost given up on playing it entirely

@AlohaPizzaJack Oh, Sorry. I misunderstood it! Great it doesn't impact on your gameplay.

@Hughesy Sorry, I didn't get that. As I said, I don't play it. I just assumed it would impact negatively the gsmeplay. Great it didn't.

@WagnerDDS No worries. This doesn’t affect anything other than random matches. You can still party up with friends on different platforms.
I play mostly for the fun challenges anyway, never to win at anything. It has the bonus perk of earning me enough currency to pay for the next pass. I’ve only spent $10 one time since launch.

I'm about to get a lot better at the game. After playing for a year against the big dogs with souped up setups, I will now be playing against folks that don't even have real buttons.

I don’t normally trash Fortnite, but this is getting a bit ridiculous. From what I heard, Epic could better optimize the game, but they seemingly have thrown up their hands and stopped trying to improve the experience. It definitely feels trashy to me, and the issues have become more noticeable the more I’ve played. Blocking Xbox and PS users from Switch users is just a bandaid covering an increasingly infected pustule.

The WiiU was certainly not way more powerful than PS3... depending on the type of game, art style, and other design choices, it's probably a pretty fair fight... slight edge to WiiU if optimized properly.

I have owned every Nintendo home console and most of the handhelds... and I love my Switch, but it struggles to hold 30 FPS at 900p with a first-party game like Zelda BOTW... so I don't think you can say it's on par with even a base model XB1.

@Azikira Pretty sure crossplay is still up, it's just random matchmaking. So long as they're your friends you should have no trouble playing with them.

@FTPinkRabbit @stiligFox Oh thank goodness, it's like the only game we all have in common across all platforms lol.

I've been wondering how this will all work, Mouse Vs. Controller Vs. Portables, the unfair advantages are clear as day. Why did anyone think this would work? Especially competitively, better buy you a PC lol.
It was fun while it lasted but this should not have happened, nor should it for any game unless it's in it's own controller pool. Ps4/Xbox, Switch/Mobile, and the almighty PC by it's lonesome.

LOL. Did the author of this article not realize that the latest Samsung phones can utilize a controller AND play at 60fps. Yep, the Note 9 and S10 can crush Switch players.

Ironically enough, Rocket League had a similar issue...and just adjusted the game to keep up instead of cutting off 3/4 of its playerbase...

@holygeez03 switch is closer to graphics of a ps3, than a Xbox one. In all honesty I don’t see the difference between a Wii U and the switch graphically speaking. And I own both.

@Azikira I think you misunderstand... cross play still exists. You play against mobile in the solo games only.

As much as I love the force fed daily Fortnite coverage, are they paying you?

@retroxdp two weeks?

Hope I can meet my friends with the pc version, or I just delete the game.

@WagnerDDS Haha no worries 😊

@sleepinglion No they aren't paying Nintendo Life to write articles. Fortnite is the most popular game in the world, NL would be stupid not to write articles about it.

No issue for me but my nephews and a lot of other younger people will be crushed by this, they allc ross play.

This pleases me. Greatly. Burn Fortnite, burn

I don't live with my son who has an Xbox whereas I have a switch. As soon as I get home I shall be deleting fortnite off my console.
Sick of being shafted by big companies

And that's why you play FPS games with a mouse and keyboard, like God intended.

@BanjoPickles it’s crap and you won’t change my mind about it being crap.

Still don't understand the apeal of this game, but feel sorry for people who do like it.

Fortnite is the scourge anyways

I hate that this is so successful.

Epic used to make better games before they limited themselves to FPSes, just like Apogee before they myopically renamed themselves 3D Realms and limited their own potential.

I'm keen to see what Epic has in store after Fortnite's popularity eventually dissipates. But Minecraft and World of Warcraft are still rather popular, so there's no telling when that could be.

@AlternateButtons idk. If they could I imagine they would. Iphone XR can run it at 60fps. Granted it costs over twice as much...

@electrogeist hoW obnoxious, How does the fall of fortnite relevant when it comes to matchmaking? Fortnite isn't the only rubbish thing here, it's also your garbage criticism.

Okay, that means I will now try again.

Thats the signal for me to finally stop playing, it already got boring.

If only they didn't have put those dances...

@BanjoPickles the devs are raking in $200 million a month on microtransactions. That is reason alone to wish it to fail as it is just pure greed and an abhorrent business model.

It's a shame for the people who bought a Switch with this game in mind. My young cousin got one for Xmas as an alternative to hogging the family iMac, now won't be able to play with his friends.

@elpardo1984 why? many ppl. already wrote this, but you're still be able to party up with xbox one / pc / ps4 players manually. only when you play solo with automatic matchmaking, you're only be able to play against mobile players. but if someone from your epic account friends on xbox one invites you to a lobby, you can still join and play with them in a squad

@eRaz0r to be honest I've barely played the game. Thanks for the info!

@elpardo1984 me neither i have installed it, but haven't played it since july hahahaha. i was playing it alot on xbox and when i got my second switch in july, i played it for 2~3 weeks. but i got bored and now it is installed, so i am be able to play, but i don'T like the performance on switch. it lags too much - stupid unreal 4 engine. not really well optimized ... even on pc, thats the engine with the most performance issues ... sadly, more and more companys are using it

@electrogeist it isn't falling apart
I don't know why anyone would think that this is some sort of sign of Epic doing poorly.
They fixed a problem.
The end.
Actually the opposite of "falling apart"

@ilh

So, it’s the developer’s fault that people are dumb enough to spend money on microtransactions

@holygeez03 of course the switch isn't as powerful as a base Xbox one. This was known the day switch was revealed.

Hmm... so, would this mean with Xbox Game Pass people would be able to play Switch owners that way?

@AlternateButtons it's incredibly difficult to get fortnite to run at 60fps consistently on the switch at 720p. In a game where you need to have a decent view distance and alright graphics to see your opponent, it makes sense as to the 30 fps target. They've been optimizing since it's release, so to say Epic is "lazy" is not true at all. Unless you'd like the game to look like that terrible "ARK" game.

@AlternateButtons Cool! It's always good to hear from software developers. You clearly understand all about real time cross platform network code, how about you list some of the things they could have easily tried to get this working?
Don't be lazy.

"No physical input"

Ever heard of controllers, friend?

Better? BETTER?!?!
THIS IS WHAT I GET!?!
I AM DONE WITH THIS GAME!!!
I PLAYED THIS TO PLAY WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT PLAY ON OTHER PLATFORMS!!
THANK FOR MAKING YOUR GAME "BETTER" EPIC!?!?

@HilarioLikesAgua You can still crossplay with your friends.

First of all this article could've done a better job of explaining this is only for solo queuing and doesn't stop you from playing with your friends.

Second, on certain mobile devices you can play in 60fps and you can also use a controller. So some mobile players can compete with the Switch actually. Article didn't touch on that either.

Finally, find it funny people calling the first comment childish as if all of the other hate bandwagon comments aren't childish as well. And look how many likes it got haha! I've become desensitized to it at this point. 🤣

I’d be fine with the 30fps cap if it actually held steady...

@Azikira
You can still host a party with them and have cross-play with them. This update only affects randoms.

@Obitokamui64
No. The Switch is more powerful than the PS3.

@EasyDaRon
To be fair, Switch players only have like...less than a year of experience on Fortnite.

This will take switch players from being at a handicap vs others, to being at a significant advantage. Now they will have a better control scheme and a longer draw distance.

@Kainbrightside try Tetris 99!

This smells lazy, with the money people have put into this game, it's not like they do not have the capital to put it back into the game to fix the issues. I don't play the game, but if I was going to play it on my switch it would be pointless if I couldn't match up with my PS4 friends that actually do play the game. I'd just play it on PS4 instead with them. If it's about making it fair pretty sure switch will have competitive edge vs most mobile players with the better controller alone.

@Donutman I hear you but TBH, it is a bit of a survival game. Also if you are only having one encounter in a match, try following other players out of the bus. The point is to be the last one standing not highest kills.

@AlternateButtons It gives Switch players an advantage, though they should still allow you to do creative mode cross platform.

And to think, for the last couple days I thought I skills were really improving...

@Paddle1 Well said.

I like this game and play it a lot. I think this is a good default, just give us the option to select other console or even pc match ups. I like the challenge and the training sometimes.

I'll stick with Splatoon 2, it's a more enjoyable experience all-around than Fortnite.

It looks like there was a misunderstanding with the patch notes. Switch players will still be able to play with Xbox and PS4 players.

@ALinkttPresent It got taken down to the Mobile pool because it is broken and they not fixing it or trying to balance it out. So no point of even entering the other 2.

My daughter plays in PC and my son on the switch. So they aren't good Ng to be able to play together anymore? Maybe I can get them to quit playing this crap game altogether...I doubt it, but I'm gonna try.

@McEhret1 They can play together as long as they are in a party. This mainly only affects solo matchups. At least from my understanding.

Ah...that is good......except I would love if they got mad and quit playing, so I could have more time for myself to play hahaha

Now I need all you Nintendo fake outragers to keep that same crying energy you had when you let those tears flow at Sony for no crossplay.

I don't want to play against mobile players, this is anti consumer, let me get my fake outrage on like yall, I only play solo and want to play against xbox one and ps4 players.

I have zero interest in the game, I only came here to see the haters get their hate boner. Mission accomplished.

If this means I might now be "good" at this game I'm all for it...

Oh good, I'll manage to snag that damn umbrella now.

@Sabroni I know you're being snarky, but it's not so much the netcode that is the problem here, but the actual game engine performance itself.
EDIT: And I only point that out because the netcode itself should actually be easier to get consistent across platforms. But with the huge performance discrepancies across all platforms Fortnite runs on, it's no wonder there are differences in how the engine behaves.

@Azikira ***** furry, after a year have you learn to read? you can still co-op ***** play