Fortnite creator update will change Star Wars video games forever

The update debuts a new slate of Force powers, like healing, enemy detection, and protective barriers. Unlike Fortnite‘s Battle Royale mode, none of these mechanics are tied to wielding a Lightsaber. Some returning assets, like the Mandalorian jetpack, have been enhanced — the flight tool will now allow for omnidirectional movement where players can soar and shoot at the same time. Even finer details, like Star Wars-themed UI and fonts, will be available to creators.

Image: Epic Games

With this update, Epic is debuting a new conversation system that enables fans to create more role-playing heavy experiences. One of the exemplar maps makes use of this mechanic by allowing players to chat with NPCs in a cantina. Theoretically, someone could build a Mass Effect-style game where the action is just as important as the dialogue.

The update will come with a set of three “exemplar” islands that Epic has developed in partnership with Disney, which are meant to give players a taste of what they can make. These include “the icy tundra of Hoth, the sandy dunes of Tatooine, and the lava fields of Nevarro,” Epic Games said in a blog post. Fans will also have access to classic scene sets, like the Death Star and the Mos Eisley cantina. Notably, while the tools to create Star Wars islands are accessible starting today, fans won’t be able to publish anything until May 1. Between now and then, Epic will introduce even more functionality to its toolkit, including support for first-person shooting.

Epic is expecting an influx of thousands of Star Wars islands. To help with discoverability, fan-made Star Wars maps will have their own section in Fortnite that highlights new and noteworthy islands. Like any other fan-made map, creators will be paid based on player engagement with their islands — but Disney will receive a 20% cut, Epic says.

According to Epic, this is a suite that combines seven years worth of Star Wars Battle Royale content in one go. The only thing that appears to be missing is the AI tech that Epic experimented with via Darth Vader last year. Even so, it’s a robust update that firmly places the future of Star Wars games in Fortnite‘s backyard. After all, officially licensed Star Wars games are few and far between — and in some cases, will take many years before anyone can play them.

Based on the success of Steal the Brainrot, which once reached a concurrent player count higher than many AAA games, we know there’s an audience of Fortnite fans willing to play things that aren’t made by Epic. Who knows? Between now and whenever Arcanaut Studios delivers Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic or Quantic Dream releases Star Wars Eclipse, an ambitious fan might beat everyone to the punch by creating a deep, choice-driven Fortnite story that’s totally free to play.