On Fortnite’s battlefields, a swirl of conversations has begun, spurred by the perceived increased difficulty of the game’s most recent chapter. Keystrokes are replaced with whispers of mystified gamers wondering, ‘Just how much tougher has Fortnite become?’ From seasoned veterans to weekend warriors, it seems the consensus is that Epic Games has upped the ante.
Summary
- Increased difficulty is influencing player experience and performance
- Diverse perspectives on the perceived difficulty;
- Several hypotheses identifying potential causes.
Perception and Frustration Brew within the Fortnite community
Within this emotionally-charged whirlwind, commenter Somethingor_rather muses that the sudden hike in difficulty could be attributed to school holiday warriors, ’cause everybody [is] on school holidays with nothing else to do.’ This seems plausible, especially if the players are zero build, casual gamers.
The Sniper Meta
User SwiftlyKickly suggests an shift in the game’s meta, citing that ‘snipers [are] now the meta.’ This could certainly alter the gameplay dynamic and cause an increase in difficulty for those unaccustomed to this style of play.
Playing Catch-Up with Teens or Facing the Bots?
Hellooooo_Nurse- underlines another theory, suggesting that ‘aim assist is overpowered and all the weapons are aim assist friendly.’ The idea of aim assisted weapons potentially contributing to the difficulty spike adds another layer to the multifaceted conversation.
wvtarheel put forth the bot theory – ‘Is it possible last season you were in bot lobbies and this season you have graduated to more real players?’ An interesting theory, however, one that warrants a deeper probe. Could it really be that Epic Games introduced more AI into the gaming experience, altering players’ performance?
There’s a Fortnite adage going around: ‘adapt or perish’. The new chapter, with its perceived heightened difficulty, embodies this more than ever. Whether it be unforgiving snipers acting as judge, jury, and executioner; school-holiday warriors dominating the battlefield, these theories provide a glimpse into why players might be finding themselves at the end of their gaming tether. One thing is clear – Fortnite’s latest chapter is not for the faint-hearted. Yet maybe – just maybe – the increased difficulty will forge a more battle-hardened community, ready to rise to any upcoming challenge the game has in store.
