Gamers that play Fortnite will now have something to look forward to because of ShiinaBR’s recent Fortnite The Thin Client Update Tweet, which validates his information. The Fortnite news that gamers have been keen on hearing regarding Fortnite’s relief within the next 30 days is quite good. Stop worrying so much about the massive file size. Say the wait will be under 30 days; it really helps. Epic Games Fortnite has always been behind the curve when it comes to this type of thing, so for once, I believe the ‘coming real soon’.
What is Thin Client and why does it have everyone talking about it? Simplified, it’s Fortnite’s new installation method. You no longer have to download a single massive package which contains Battle Royale, Fortnite Lego, Rocket Racing, Festival, Creative, and everything else. You can now choose the game modes you want. You can first install the base client which serves as the lobby, and other general and essential features. It will then only be a matter of downloading the game modes you want. If you are like me, you can have the main BR and some Creative maps and download only those. You can also have an option to ignore the Lego stuff and even get rid of Rocket Racing if you have tried it once and never touched it again. The amount of freedom is ridiculous.
Fortnite’s install size is approaching a critical level, making this news even more important. We’re talking about a staggering 100 gigabytes on some platforms. This can be a major issue for PC and console players with limited SSD space. It’s enough space to install a whole new game. Pirateer, one of the users on the reply, put it perfectly when he said, “Finally I can delete 30-40 gb worth of garbage.” Everyone shared the same sentiment, and it is delightful news that players will no longer have to forfeit other games in order to keep Fortnite updated.
It’s not just about conserving storage space. There is a performance aspect as well. Another player named Poke14MX, directly questioned, “Will this boost fps? My game doesnt run well on normal BR,” and to some extent, yes it might. The performance can be improved, since theoretically, fewer assets and game modes needing to load will run the game more smoothly, even if the player is not actively in them. The game stands to benefit tremendously, as well as the players with lower-end computers, and last-gen consoles, since the game will be smoother with less stuttering, and it will have more frames. The vast majority of people would consider this a win.
The Fortnite player community has responded very positively to the news, affirming TheSPLAGames’s comment, “SO HUGE for the Fortnite player base!” The new update is expected to attract new players to Fortnite who had not played before due to the enormous download size. At the same time, existing players would now be able to uninstall the game, resulting in a net positive. It appears Fortnite is making the game more accessible to a wider audience, which is a smart marketing tactic.
New updates also bring questions. As a user named FakerKenzie asked very well, “What if I don’t want the thin client?”. An explanation from s7ntss that “thin client just lets you install parts of fortnite separately. you can still install the full game” addresses the concern, as it is optional. Any Fortnite fan who wants the complete game and more is entitled to it. So, at least for now, nothing is forced on the users, which is the right strategy.
Some users misinterpreting the “What’s thin client?” question demonstrated a need for better communication from Epic. Grok, the AI, answered well in a different reply, which compelled me to respond as well: “Thin Client is an upcoming Fortnite feature that lets you download only the game modes you want, so Fortnite’s install size and time are reduced. It is modular, with core elements like the lobby installed first.” It really is as simple as that.
Some replies made me laugh, especially when SDHCTP asked, “What about thick client?” which put a smile on my face. I found Almonds305’s question relatable, somewhat, “Is this the update that’ll let me uninstall Rocket Racing,” because some game modes don’t quite reach the mark for many people, and there is nothing wrong in that.
The anticipation is real as we are entering the countdown. Within the next two weeks, Fortnite will be releasing refined versions of various subsets. There are no new weapons or changes to the maps, but this update is going to have a great impact on Fortnite’s health. Everyone will be happily storing less, so get ready because the time is nearly here!
