Update: Eurogamer has now received a statement from Epic Games which notes that the 2020 Annual Pass will not be released. Apparently, the pass was considered - which explains why evidence of its existence was found within the game's code - but has ultimately been scrapped. Here's the statement:
"We've seen discussions around a 2020 Annual Pass as a result of data mining the v11.30 build. Occasionally prototype features make it into our build that end up not being released. While the 2020 Annual Pass was considered, we have no plans to release it... unlike the Bao Bros."
Original Article (Thu 12th Dec, 2019 12:15 GMT): 2020 could well see a very significant change for the ever-popular Fortnite, as an Annual Battle Pass offering has been discovered ahead of release in the game's files.
The leak comes from FortniteNews, which says that the files containing information on the pass, mentioned in-game simply as 'Annual Pass', have been found within the upcoming v11.30 update set to be released this week. The update will reportedly read as follows:
"Purchase the 2020 Annual Pass and receive all upcoming 2020 Fortnite Battle Royale: Battle Bundles and 7 Annual Pass exclusive cosmetics. Battle Bundles unlock 25% of content in each Battle Pass instantly upon release."
As you can see, the Pass will supposedly give players all of 2020's Battle Passes, rather than having to buy each season individually, and you'll also get some extra goodies for your commitment.
Epic Games hasn't confirmed or indeed spoken about such a thing, but we do know that a "special announcement" is set to be made for the game at The Game Awards, which is taking place in just a few hours' time. We're guessing this will be it.
Keen Fortnite players will be all over this, we're sure. How about you? Let us know in the comments.
[source fortnitenews.com, via eurogamer.net]
Comments 12
In before the hate for Fortnite. Also before anyone says anything bad about this, Hi-Rez did it first.
Not a chance in Hell
I like Fortnite but I’ve been getting a bit tired of it lately. It’s fun but formulaic and I’ve had a good year of enjoyment out of it but I’m getting over it as a game now... just in time for Animal Crossing!
I mean, if you bought a battle pass in the past you pretty much never had to buy another one before. Each Battle pass awards you with over 1000 V-bucks, which a battle pass would cost 950 V-bucks. So as long as you spent very little V-bucks, you would always earn enough currency for the next Battle Pass. So I'm hoping the anual battle pass won't be much higher than the standard one. $20 at the very most it should cost.
I bought a battle pass once and won’t again, the content was mainly just trash, sprays and skins. I’m ok with Epic having the money as I’ve played many hours, but definitely don’t need a battle pass
I guess this is how they are planning to fight the gradual decline in IAP, locking people for a full year?
It's odd that the pass seems to be specific to a calendar year, though. That might mean they will only sell it through the next few weeks, and first few weeks of 2020.
Depending on timing, it might not be that good of a deal to get a month or two into the year. Unless the year is just a marketing thing and its a 12 month pass.
@patbacknitro18 Agreed. One of the reasons I have absolutely no issue with the way Fortnite monetise the game is due to how fair the Battle Pass is.
The Annual Pass definitely needs to reflect this in price. Although I’m imaging it’ll be more like £50 and they’ll justify it with the bonus skins (which seems like they’re offering quite a few) and the fact that it means you can then spend the 1500 V-Bucks you acquire from each pass on items from the in game store.
This game was kinda interesting but it never hooked me and I have moved on to other competitive shooters like the new COD.
This is why it is so wrong to data mine. That information isn’t meant for your eyes, and it’s certainly not meant for the public.
@ALinkttPresent it's not hurting anybody and Epic doesn't seem to mind. They even commented about the annual pass because it got datamined
@ozwally There are way more stuff in the pass dude. And you technically only need to buy it once since it gives you enough free v-bucks for next season's. The newest one was even more generous by giving out 1500 instead of the usual 1000
Doesn't matter to me, personally I don't like being tied down or obligated to play a particular game for a year just because I have an annual pass, things like that are what kept me from ever playing WoW or similar games, I prefer just one up front fee and that's it. Besides I have earned every battle pass I have ever purchased just from playing the game so far anyway.
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