Fortnite Makes Big Gameplay Changes as Overwatch Update Arrives

The big Fortnite Overwatch update is here, bringing Tracer, Genji and the gang to Epic Games’ battle royale Island. But the changes only begin there — with a major shakeup to gameplay, in Zero Build mode in particular.

Across Fortnite’s main battle royale mode, fall damage has been made so it is no longer lethal — players instead “splat” onto the ground, and recover with 1HP. Time for some bandages!

Battle royale’s Zero Build option, meanwhile, has been completely overhauled with yet more changes, such as the addition of an unlimited use “Pocket Item” randomly assigned at the beginning of matches. These items can include Shockwave Grenades, Medmist or Shield Bubbles.

YOU NO LONGER DIE FROM FALL DAMAGE

BATTLE ROYALE & ZERO BUILD (Unranked) pic.twitter.com/5jzANXhJqJ

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— HYPEX (@HYPEX) May 14, 2026

Glider redeploy is back when you’re leaping off high areas, and you can now cut your glider near the ground for a headstart (at the cost of potentially taking some fall damage). Equipping your pickaxe now provides unlimited stamina, meanwhile, and eliminations grant overshield — encouraging more aggressive play.

Balancing that is a boost to environmental cover strength (walls, crates and so forth will now withstand more fire), while Reboot Van timers have been reduced so you can bring the squad back in more quickly.

Alongside Overwatch locations added to the game’s map (Hanamura! King’s Row! Busan Drum Pavilion!), fans seem to be especially having fun with Tracer’s pulse pistols, which move Fortnite’s third-person action fully first-person and let you blink and rewind time. It’s certainly one of the best crossover collaboration items in some time.

New Fortnite Overwatch update is INSANE! 😲 #Fortnite pic.twitter.com/jRgdddAhZv

— Xen Grxnt (@RealGrxnt) May 14, 2026

Fortnite has had a rough start to 2026, with major layoffs back in March following a downturn in interest in Epic Games’ evergreen battle royale shooter. Analysts told IGN that fewer people playing the game’s veteran battle royale was only one of its problems, however, following the time and money spent over the past few years fighting costly legal battles with Apple and Google, while bankrolling the Epic Games Store as it attempts to rival Steam. And then there’s the explosive growth of Roblox, which dwarfs the engagement seen by Fortnite’s own creator-made modes.

Still, big updates like this show that Epic Games can still impress fans with another set of improvements and changes. Fortnite lore fans also get more to chew over this update as well, with confirmation on the fate of The Paradigm (the character previously voiced by Brie Larson), another fan-favorite character set to return, and a pretty big hint at who is pulling the Dark Voyager’s strings…

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social