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Fortnite updates: Proximity Grenade Launcher solves your aim problem in v9.21

Can't hit the broadside of a barn? The Proximity Grenade Launcher is here to help.
By
June 13, 2019

Welcome to our Fortnite update tracker! We’ll be collating all of the official Fortnite Battle Royale update/patch notes and breaking down all the new features added to Epic Games’ phenomenon for Android and iOS phones and tablets, as well as PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch platforms.

More: Fortnite Season 9 guide: Battle Pass, skins, map changes, Fortbytes, and more!

If you want to stay up-to-date with all the new skins, map updates, weapon changes, and additions, new modes, and much more then be sure to bookmark this page for future reference!

Fortnite update: The latest

Fortnite v9.21 update overview

Release date: June 12, 2019.

This Fortnite update is a small one, but it has some cool new features, including a brand new weapon. It’s somewhere between the grenade launcher and the rocket launcher, with the added benefit of exploding when near an enemy, without needing to make direct contact.

A new game mode is also present in this update, and it appears to be similar to the original Fortnite game mode: Save the World. In it, you team up with up to three other players to fight against the fiends from a many patches ago. Defeat the boss fiend at the end and vie for the high score!

Fortnite update v9.21 patch notes

What’s New?

Proximity Grenade Launcher

It’s not a horseshoe or a hand grenade, but close still counts!

Fortnite update proximity grenade launcher

Horde Rush (Coming Soon)

A new 4-player Co-op Limited Time mode is just around the corner! Survive the Horde Rush on June 13.

Fortnite update horde rush

Limited Time Mode Rotation:

One Shot Duos

Low Gravity. Every player has 50 health. Sniper weapons are the only weapon, Bandages are the only healing item. Jump high and aim well!

Horde Rush

Fortnite Fiends are back on the island and angrier than ever! Fight alongside your teammates to rack up your score by finding hidden score multipliers, opening special loot chests, and eliminating as many monsters as you can. Traverse across the map, survive all of the Defend locations and take down the Final Boss to win!

Mode Details:

  • Four player Squad mode divided up into multiple stages.
  • Prepare to defend an area by searching for weapons & items, scavenging materials, and building defenses.
  • Rack up points by fighting Fiends, collecting score multipliers, and destroying Fiend Spawners.
  • Recover from the battle and search for more equipment.
  • Travel across the map to the next defense point.
  • Respawning is enabled until the last stage when players have to destroy a Boss Fiend and his horde of minions.
  • Keep an eye out for special loot chests, which contain powerful weapons & provide a scoring bonus.

Weapons + Items

Proximity Grenade Launcher

  • Fires an arcing, bouncing, explosive projectile that explodes when in proximity of an opponent.
  • Available in Epic and Legendary Rarities.
  • Found from Chests, Loot Carriers, Supply Drops, and Vending Machines.
  • Semi-Automatic.
  • Uses Rocket Ammo.
  • Holds 2 Explosive Rounds.
  • Rate of Fire: 0.65 shots per second.
  • Player Proximity Radius: 250 units (about half the width of a tile).
  • Explosion Radius: 300 units (about 60% of the width of a tile).
  • Explosion damage:
    • Player: 67/70
    • Environmental: 131/138
  • Reload Speed: 2.8s/3s
  • Projectiles explode automatically after 10s or if it has nearly come to a stop.

Shield Potion

  • Increased the availability from Chest loot from 11.3% to 12.09%

Small Shield Potion

  • Increased the availability from Chest loot from 16.95% to 18.13%
  • With items being added and removed, we’ve noticed that Shield Potions and Small Shields have been less available in Chests. So we’ve increased the chance to find Shields from Chests to compensate for that.

Shotguns

  • Increased the overall chance to find from Floor loot from 8.50% to 9.77%
  • After seeing the community’s feedback about Shotgun availability, we’ve increased the Shotgun availability from Floor Loot to make finding them in the early phases of the game easier.

Infantry Rifle Epic and Legendary variants

  • Increased the availability from Floor loot from .067% to .105%
  • Increased the availability from Chest loot from .414% to .645%

Heavy Assault Rifle Common variant

  • Decreased the availability from Floor loot from 2.04% to 1.715%
  • Decreased the availability from Chest loot from 12.47% to 10.46%

Mounted Turret

  • Decreased the availability from floor loot from .59% to .46%

Storm Flip

  • Adjusted Storm Flip to cause flat damage instead of being based on which Storm Phase is currently active.
    • Causes 5 damage every second.
    • This change may not be immediately available at the time of release. It requires a server update and will become active at some point later in the day.
    • We noticed with scaling damage that players held onto their Storm Flip later into matches, creating undesirable effects. This change gives players more value in using it earlier in matches.
  • Reduced the availability from Chests from 3.39% to 1.69%
  • Reduced the availability from Floor loot from 3.32% to 1.66%
  • Added back into the Arena and Tournament playlists.
    • We have visual effect changes coming in v9.30 that will help improve readability.

Audio

Bug Fixes

  • Audio was sounding muffled due to a filter optimization issue.

Mobile

We’ve noticed iOS patches have experienced delays appearing in the App Store recently. Apple has stated that any application can take up to 24 hours to appear in the App Store. If no update is available, be sure to check our social channels for more info.

Fortnite update history

Fortnite v9.20 update overview

Release date: June 6, 2019.

The big news with Fortnite update v9.20 is the addition of the Storm Flip, which lets you temporarily turn on or off the Storm in a small area. This could force enemies to abandon their previously safe positions, or allow you to save a downed teammate just outside the safe zone.

This update also contains a number of smaller changes, including the vaulting of all variants of the Hunting Rifle. Mobile players can rejoice, as healing is now much easier with the addition of Quick Heal. Check out the patch notes below for more info!

Fortnite v9.20 update patch notes

What’s new?

Storm Flip

Power of the storm in the palm of your hands!

Weapons + Items

  • Storm Flip
    • Thrown item that explodes on impact and creates a sphere-shaped zone.
    • Where the sphere overlaps the storm, it will create a safe zone.
    • Where the sphere overlaps a safe zone, it will create a storm zone.
    • The Storm Flip deals the same damage as the current storm.
    • The zone lasts for 20 seconds before dissipating.
    • Available in Epic Rarity.
    • Can be found from Floor Loot, Chests, and Vending Machines.
    • Drops in stacks of 1.
    • Max stack of 1.
  • Vaulted
    • Hunting Rifle all variants
    • While we value the variety of longer range sniping options, the Hunting Rifle has become somewhat outclassed by the Infantry Rifle after it was changed to hitscan. In addition, there are a few Sniper Rifle options available and we feel it doesn’t currently fill a necessary role in the item lineup.
  • Loot Carrier
    • Reduced sniper package availability from 12.5% to 8.45%
    • Reduced explosive package availability from 12.5% to 7.04%
    • The chances of getting high-powered, rare items from Supply Drones was higher than felt appropriate, so we’ve reduced their availability slightly
  • Mounted turret
    • Overheat now takes 20% longer. 
    • The Mounted Turret’s usage has decreased over time. By slightly increasing time before Overheat, the goal is to help increase its risk/reward.
  • Increased max charge time on Boom Bow from 1s to 1.25s
    • The Boom Bow is a bit stronger than we’d like. This adjustment should reduce frequency between shots, making misses riskier. We’d like to evaluate the impact of this change before making any additional adjustments, and it’s possible that more tweaks will be necessary if this doesn’t have the desired effect.
  • The Slipstream’s audio, pink ring, and spinning blades turn off when disabled during the fifth phase of the Storm.
  • Players revived from a Reboot Van will lose invulnerability upon shooting or building.
  • Air Vents are now more forgiving in order to prevent fall damage when players jump on them from high places.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed an issue in which weapons that previously had no ammo would be unable to be automatically reloaded.
  • Fixed an issue where players would take fall damage after exiting a Baller quickly rolling downhill.
  • Aim assist can no longer be used to fire at players using a Shadow Bomb.
  • Fixed an issue where players could damage teammates who were disconnected from the match.
  • Fixed an issue where the Flying Disc Toy would get caught on Ballers in mid-air.
  • Fixed an issue where Slipstream audio and visual FX would continue to occur after the player exits.
  • Fixed an issue where Air Vents’ sound and visual effects occurred more than once.
  • Fixed an issue in which Driftboards were unable to exit Slipstreams.
  • Exiting a vehicle that had entered a Slipstream no longer causes players to skydive.
  • Vending Machines no longer become unusable when a player using one gets eliminated.
  • The Flint-Knock Pistol is now consistently able to knock targets and the shooter the correct distance.
  • Dynamite audio no longer gets stuck on a loop during replays.
  • The lava bounce visual effect no longer persists if a Baller bounces from lava to water.

Limited time mode rotation

Sword Fight

Treasure chest contain Epic or better weapons as well as the occasional Infinity Blade! Fight your opponents to find out who is worthy of the Blade… and who is not.

Gameplay

  • Auto Swap Material option was removed and is always on.
    • Removing the option allowed us to optimize Auto-Swap behavior, primarily reducing rare cases in which materials did not swap properly.
  • Increased duration for how long elimination credit can be granted to the last damager.
    • Fall damage from 15s to 60s
    • Self-elimination from 15s to 60s
    • Storm elimination from 5s to 60s
  • Lowered the difficulty for awarding Fortbytes by finishing top 10 in squads, duos, or solos from 25, 50, 75, 100 to 5, 15, 30, 50
  • Added support for foot controller devices to the Accessibility options.
  • Adjusted Invert Aircraft Controls setting info to better describe the option.

Bug Fixes

  • Gamepad custom build controls now consistently allow players to turbo build when using the ‘Place’ action while simultaneously having the ‘Stair,’ ‘Wall,’ ‘Roof,’ or ‘Floor’ action bound.
  • Fixed an issue where players would accidentally place a floor piece above when attempting to build below them.
  • Fixed an issue in which the destruction of a building could be interrupted by reconnecting it to its base.
  • Fixed an issue in which players would hang in the air if they disconnected during the bus drop phase.
  • Certain Fortbytes requiring a specific cosmetic item now correctly unlock for players who have it equipped.

Audio

  • Updated reload sounds for weapons to be mono instead of stereo.  This will help with spatialization improvements for weapon swap sounds.

Bug Fixes

  • The storm damage sound effect no longer ends prematurely.

Mobile

We’ve noticed iOS patches have experienced delays appearing in the App Store recently. Apple has stated that any application can take up to 24 hours to appear in the App Store. If no update is available, be sure to check our social channels for more info.

  • Introducing Quick Heal
    • Allows for Shield and Health consumables to be used more easily.
      • When health or shields are below 100 (max) – the quick heal button will display on screen.
    • Separate button that needs to be added manually from the HUD Layout Tool.
    • Button Icon displays the current priority items from the player’s inventory
      • Priority 1 – Chug Jug over all other healing items
      • Priority 2 – Health over Shield items
      • Priority 3 – MedKit over Bandages.
      • Priority 4 – If shields are below 50, Small Shields
      • Priority 5 – If shields are greater or equal to 50, Shield Potions
  • Added an “X” (Exit) button to close several screens where the “Close” button was too small.
  • Players will now get an error message if they try to update the game but have insufficient storage space.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed an issue where outfits wouldn’t be displayed properly after logging out and back in.
  • Aim assist and Auto fire can no longer be used to fire at players using a Shadow Bomb
  • Fixed an issue for Android players encountering an error when trying to watch live matches.
  • Fixed an issue with doors and ziplines being interactable from long distances.
  • Centered Events and Challenges screens on devices with a 4:3 display.
  • Fixed an issue with the Combat/Build Mode button bringing players back into combat mode mid-animation.
  • Fixed an issue where the names of an eliminated team remained under the spectated player.
  • Controller blueprint appears correctly when viewed with devices with a wider screen.

Creative Bug Fixes

  • Fixed an issue with the selection arrows being difficult to select.
  • Global Control UI now displays consistently.
  • Fixed an issue with sound effects playing in a loop while players hold a grenade.
  • Players can now consistently use a controller to access the Show Details menu.
  • Fixed an issue where scores would not properly display at the beginning of the match.

General

  • Banner Icons- Updated from 256×256 to 512×512
    • Standard Type – 31 large graphic types updated
    • Battle Royale – 17 large graphic types updated
  • Console players can now access language options through the Settings menu.
  • Players can now choose a setting on the “Account” tab to opt out of player surveys.
  • Updated main menu lobby to be the same as the Battle Royale lobby.
    • We made some initial polish adjustments to the new lobby with a plan to iterate over time and update the theme across the front-end.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed videos not looping on PS4.
  • The question mark icon in the Settings menu now fully fills in the box.

UI

  • We’ve added the ability to Undo a new purchase to the Fortnite Store!
    • Immediately after you make a new purchase you will be able to Undo this item purchase for a limited time as long as you stay on the purchase screen.
    • After you Undo a purchase, there will be a cooldown on using Undo on that same item, but you will be able to Undo any other new purchases!
    • If you choose to Undo a purchase, the ownership of that item will be revoked and you will be granted back the appropriate V-Bucks.
    • Undo will follow the same eligibility requirements as Return Requests.
      • What can Undo be used on?
        • Items available for purchase with V-Bucks in the Item Shop
          • Emotes
          • Gliders
          • Harvesting Tools
          • Back Bling
          • Outfits
          • Wraps
          • Music
      • What can Undo not be used on?
          • Limited Time Offers in the Store such as Lava Legends Pack, Frozen Legends Pack, and The Laguna Pack
          • V-Bucks
          • Gifting
          • Battle Pass
          • Battle Pass Tiers
          • Founder’s Pack
          • Founder’s Pack Upgrades
          • Loot Llamas (Save the World)
          • Event and Weekly Items (Save the World)
  • Players in your squad now have a stronger visual highlight when actively speaking.
    • We no longer display Active Voice Indicators in-game for players that are in your squad.
    • We adjusted this to retain the improved visibility of speaking players that Active Voice Indicators provide while making it easier for you to immediately get contextual information (e.g. health and shield status) for the person speaking.

Fortnite v9.10 Content Update overview

Release date: May 29, 2019.

This update brings many of the Limited Time Modes announced in the previous Fortnite update to life, and introduces a brand new weapon. The Burst SMG fires 4 bullets per round, dealing heavy damage in close quarters. The Suppressed SMG is going away to make room, but can still be found in the Unvaulted Squads Limited Time Mode.

Fortnite v9.10 Content Update patch notes

Burst SMG

This burst-fire SMG packs a real punch in close quarters encounters.

LIMITED TIME MODE ROTATION

Solid Gold Duos

Fight to the finish using Legendary weapons!

Unvaulted Squads

Battle Royale gameplay with a limited set of weapons made up entirely of items that are vaulted in the standard modes.

Close Encounters Squads

Close quarters combat with Shotguns & Jetpacks!

Fortnite v9.10 update overview

Release date: May 22, 2019.

Just in case you thought Fortnite was getting stale, update v9.10 introduces a Hot Spots that bring extra loot to certain parts of the map. These are remarkably similar to the Hot Zones found in Apex Legends, but this time the loot is found in flying Loot Carriers that need to be shot down. 

This Fortnite update also brings back the Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle, which should add more variety to mid/long-range weapon choices. Take full advantage of the unvaulted weapon in the limited time mode Sniper Shootout Duos, or play will all vaulted weapons in Unvaulted Squads.

Fortnite update hot spot loot carrier

Fortnite v9.10 update patch notes

What’s New

Hot Spots

  • Randomly selected locations on the map that have a high loot rate with an increase of Supply Drops!

Limited Time Mode Rotation

Sniper Shootout Duos

  • Sniper Rifles only. Downed players are eliminated instantly. May the best aim win!

Unvaulted Squads

  • Battle Royale gameplay with a limited set of weapons made up entirely of items that are vaulted in the standard modes.

Close Encounters Squads

Close quarters combat with Shotguns & Jetpacks!

Weapons + Items

  • Shadow Bombs
    • Reduced availability from floor loot from .835% to .677%
    • Reduced availability from chests from 4.65% to 3.98%
    • Reduced drop count from 3 to 2.
  • Unvaulted Semi-Auto Sniper Rifle
    • Available in Vending Machines, Chests, and Floor Loot
    • Available in Uncommon and Rare variants
  • Combat Shotgun
    • Reduced the availability from floor loot from 2.015% to 1.409%
    • Reduced the availability from chest loot from 2.183% to 1.846%

Bug Fixes

  • Dropping part of a consumable item stack no longer interrupts using the consumable.
  • Shadow Bombs correctly leave the players inventory when no charges are left.
  • Shadow Bombs are consumed properly when quickly picking up a replacement item during activation.
  • Combat Shotgun now applies appropriate environmental damage falloff.
  • Ability to move is no longer lost if Rift-to-go was used with Balloons.
  • The Bush now correctly attaches to players in specific animations, such as skydiving.
  • Resolved inconsistent behavior while using Flint-Knock pistol during crouch.
  • Air vent audio is now correctly removed upon on destruction.
  • Boogie Bombs now properly prevent affected players from skydiving.
  • Camera issues when exiting a Mounted Turret have been resolved.
  • Remote Explosives will now open and close with doors they are stuck to.

Gameplay

  • Introducing Hot Spots!
    • Every match, select named locations will be marked in gold text on the map.
      • These Hot Spots represent the presence of Loot Carriers. Shoot down the carriers for additional high-quality weapons.
        • Minimum of one Hot Spot
        • 25% chance for 2 Hot Spots
        • 5% chance for 3 Hot Spots
      • Loot Carriers
        • Loot Carriers drop a weapon of Rare or higher quality along with two stacks of ammo.
        • Hot Spots will have between 12 and 16 Loot Carriers depending on the size of the location.
  • Equipping the blueprint to start building has improved in high latency situations.
  • Added crosshair dot while skydiving to allow for more precise map marking.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed an issue with auto material swap canceling turbo build if the client can’t predict the material amount quick enough.
  • Updated Environmental and Cozy Campfire Trap collision to better allow players to walk over campfires.
  • Players can no longer fire/reload weapons while reviving a DBNO teammate.
  • Contrails are no longer stuck on the player if they dropped from the bus directly into a Slipstream.

Performance

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed a regression in level streaming performance introduced in v9.0. This should significantly improve loading times for buildings, and reduce instances of players landing on low-LOD meshes.
  • Reduced hitches shortly after landing, especially on lower-end hardware (e.g Switch).

Audio

  • Improved enemy jump sounds.
  • Reduced the time that it takes the enemy in-air audio loop to kick on, for better awareness of an enemy dropping in on you from above.
  • Boosted the volume of nearby footsteps and landing sounds of enemies not in line of sight.
  • Tighter spatialization of close-range pickaxe sounds from other players.
  • Added clearer sound when an enemy confirms an edit on a building piece within ~2 tiles of your position.
  • Removed glider audio tell for players traveling through a Slipstream.
  • Your emote music is now prioritized over other players emotes in the front-end.
  • Emote music is now full stereo when in the front-end.
  • Added a new Headshot + Shield Break sound, for when the two events occur at the same time.
  • Lowered the minimum velocity required to trigger a landing sound.

Bug Fixes

  • Walking up on the edge of a building piece plays correct material specific footstep audio.
  • Enemy pickaxe sound now plays correctly from impact point and not from player using the pickaxe.
  • The Boom Bow’s fire sound has been fixed to not cut off when switching weapons immediately after shooting.
  • Firing weapons no longer lowers building sounds.

UI

  • Changed “Return To Lobby” to “Leave Match”.
  • Adjusted the “damage” color when taking shield damage back to an increased-contrast version of the original.

Bug Fixes

  • Party Leaders who left their party’s current match could start a new match and take the entire party with them.

Spectating

Bug Fixes

  • Focus no longer changes when watching a server replay during the bus phase.
  • Watching live games will no longer change players when joining the Battle Bus.

Mobile

  • Removed the HUD when respawning.
  • We’ve made improvements to the UI by adding an exit button to the following:
    • Squad Formation in the lobby
    • Playground Match Options
    • Events screen
  • Removed vibration toggle settings for devices that do not support vibration.

Bug Fixes

  • Players ammo count now correctly displays in all languages.
  • The Mini Map has been adjusted to fit correctly in large team LTM’s.
  • Bluetooth headset sound quality has been improved.
  • The interaction loading bar no longer progresses counter-clockwise.
  • Start Game widget in Creative no longer overlaps with the inventory hot bar.
  • Phase Mode Button now correctly displays in Creative.
  • FPS counter not being fully displayed on curved screens.
  • Emote audio now plays for the full duration on the Nintendo Switch.
  • Scoped weapon fixes:
    • ADS perspective could remain on-screen when switching weapons.
    • Player’s view could be inverted when aiming.
  • Fixed duplicate voice indicators appearing for the same speaker

Performance

  • Optimized the eye adaption rendering effect
  • Optimized animation performance for ControlRig (Werewolf, Krampus).

What would you like to see in future updates to Fortnite? Let us know in the comments.