Fortnite Chapter 3: why has Epic Games removed building in new Season 2 update - and when will it be back?

A new Season of Fortnite’s Chapter 3 is upon us, and it brings some pretty big additions to the game.

Or should that be removals?

Season 2 actually takes out one of the game’s fundamental mechanics, one that’s been an integral part of the Fortnite experience from the off.

Building is completely gone for the time being, replaced instead with a number of new movement mechanics which are sure to change the way Fortnite handles dramatically.

Aside from the new updates changes, developers Epic Games have also announced it will be supporting the anti-war effort in Ukraine, with

Here is everything you need to know about it.

What is building?

While on the surface, Fortnite may look like a fairly straightforward Battle Royale-type shooter in which the last player left standing is declared the winner, there’s a bit more to it than that.

One of the features that set the game apart in its infancy was its building mechanic, which allowed players to construct defensive structures and bases on the fly once they had scavenged the requisite materials.

Skilled players were able to juggle picking off rival gamers while constructing these structures at speed, making for some impressive clips that were almost incomprehensible to any viewers not au fait with Fortnite’s ways.

But now, building has been removed, giving Fortnite an entirely different feel.

Why has building been removed?

There’s been no official word on why Epic Games has chosen to remove building from Fortnite.

But obviously, such a drastic change is an easy way to slap a fresh coat of paint on a game which is coming up on half a decade of existence.

The fact that new movement abilities have been added to the game (see below) suggests Epic Games may simply be experimenting with how to keep the game exciting for players new and old, as well as viewers.

The growing esports scene around Fortnite means that as well as hundreds of thousands of daily players, fans are watching others play the game vicariously.

It could be that watching somebody seemingly pinned down by an opponent suddenly turn the tide of battle by erecting a wooden structure seemingly out of nowhere may have been a little difficult for new fans to understand.

What has replaced building?

Building’s removal doesn’t usher in a complete overhaul of the game, and a couple of new mechanics have been introduced in its stead.

The most important one is the Overshield, which serves as a defensive measure for players in lieu of building, and gives the player 50 Health overtime throughout the match if no damage is dealt to them.

Then there is Mantling, which allows players to reach higher levels of the game’s map without the need for building: now, if a surface is too high for the player to jump to, or a platform is too far when landing, the player will pull themselves up when reaching it.

Sprinting has also been introduced, which allows players to run much faster than they have previously been able to, without the use of in-game items.

However, doing so does present a tactical disadvantage, and the player will put away their weapons while sprinting,

Sprinting also allows players to bash through closed doors to open them.

Will building be back?

The removal of the building function obviously drastically changes the way Fortnite is played, and though it has been replaced somewhat with the game’s new defensive over-shield, even seasoned players are having to get to grips with it all over again.

Of course, that’s cause for consternation from many long-term players, who now find themselves having to adopt brand new tactics on the battlefield, with mixed results.

So will building ever make a return to Fortnite?

According to leaks, building will make its grand return... in just a few days.

The consensus is that building will make a return next week after the first portion of the new season ends, with leakers and dataminers uncovering hints within the game’s code that suggests the mechanic could be back seven to nine days from Season 2’s launch.

That would mean a return from building between 27 and 29 March, though this has not been confirmed officially.

How is Fortnite supporting Ukraine?

Epic Games is committing all its Fortnite proceeds made between 20 March and 3 April 2022 to humanitarian relief for people affected by the war in Ukraine.

The studio says that Xbox is also joining them in this effort and is committing their net proceeds for Fortnite during this time.

The funds raised will support organisations on the ground in providing emergency aid, including health support, food and clean water, essential supplies, legal aid, and shelter.

All real-money Fortnite purchases made between 20 March and 3 April will help benefit the cause.

This includes V-Buck packs, Fortnite Crew, gifted Battle Passes, and cosmetic packs such as the Voidlander Pack sold for real money.

Retail store purchases of in-game cosmetics and V-Bucks cards will also be included if they are redeemed in-game during this window.

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