Are you okay with this change?
Fortnite has been around for nearly seven years, meaning there's a lot of history behind the game. Mechanics, cosmetics, Battle Passes, and more have come and gone, with many never returning. However, one constant in Fortnite has always been cosmetic rarities. This slight touch lets players see what the game classifies as Rare, Epic, Legendary, etc. Unfortunately, just like the shake-down mechanic, this has become a thing of the past as all cosmetic rarities have been removed.
You might be wondering why this happened. Epic Games explained the reason, but many players have had issues with the decision.
Epic Games removes cosmetic rarities from Fortnite
The developers published a blog post regarding these unexpected Item Shop and cosmetic changes on April 9, detailing the removal of cosmetic classifications in Fortnite.
"The Shop has evolved significantly to support multiple types of cosmetics and items across games, so we’re retiring the old Battle Royale-inspired system of colors and tags for cosmetic quality. Different Series of cosmetics — such as the Icon Series or Gaming Legends Series — will still be there to help you find your favorite stuff!"
While this statement did not explain the purpose, Epic Games revealed to players that the "old Battle Royale-inspired system of colors and tags" is no longer in use. Those hoping to quickly locate their "Legendary" Reaper or Black Knight skin must now use the search function or scroll through the locker.
A quick look at the current state of your Fortnite locker reveals that anything not classified under the Gaming Legends Series, Icon Series, Marvel, or Star Wars will find a list of plainly colored cosmetics.
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Why did Epic Games make this change?
Rabid backlash notwithstanding, Epic Games rarely comments on its changes to Fortnite. However, in this case, one tweet garnered a direct response from the main Fortnite account on X. A post from user HappyPower called out Epic for an "Angel and Devil thing" with the latest update.
This user points out that while Epic's change to include a specific timer for each cosmetic was worthwhile, removing cosmetic rarities in Fortnite is meant to "trick you into thinking a skin is worth more than it is." Epic Games responded to this post.
"Hey – the change to remove color labeling from Shop items doesn’t change our approach or the way we price things. We just wanna simplify the appearance of Fortnite (Locker, Shop, etc) and remove outdated Battle Royale-inspired systems."
Although it was refreshing to see Epic respond to feedback, HappyPower doubled down, stating that the company's recent changes to Fortnite are not in the players' best interest.
It's challenging to disagree with HappyPower's sentiment. Fortnite's current locker situation is eye-soar, and figuring out where to find everything is confusing. Attempting to simplify the locker UI and Item Shop seems cluttered the environment.
However, it is impossible to substantiate Epic's accusation of attempting to trick players into paying more for a skin than it's worth. It will be interesting to see if the Fortnite developers continue to address this issue raised by players.
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