Update Dec. 6 10:30am CT: Epic released a new statement confirming the recent movement changes will be optimized in a future update, but the new animations are staying.
Epic Games will improve the Fortnite animation changes from Chapter Five, season one but will not revert them. On Dec. 6, two days after encouraging players to continue testing the updated animations, the company confirmed it’s exploring options to speed up gameplay without getting rid of the new animations.
Epic, in a statement on X, acknowledged that their team also needed a few days to adapt to the new movement changes during playtests. They asked players to be patient with these adjustments, rather than immediately demanding a reversal. The company believes that the changes, including reduced sprint speed with quicker stamina recovery and a stealthier crouching movement, will enhance the strategic depth of Fortnite.
Then, on Dec. 6, they recognized movement feels a bit too slow and promised “tweaks” in the coming weeks. However, it’s still unclear in which update these changes are coming.
All movement changes implemented in Fortnite Chapter 5, season one
Here’s everything regarding character movement that changed in Fortnite, according to Epic Games.
- Added new animations
- Reduced running and sprinting speed
- Increased stamina recovery
- Increased sideways and backward movement speed
- Decreased crouching movement speed, making it more difficult to hear
The reduced sprinting speed in Fortnite led many players to mistakenly believe that the Storm’s speed had increased, when in fact, their characters were moving slower. This change has resulted in players struggling to outrun the Storm in late-game scenarios, which forced earlier and closer movement toward the center. This adjustment can indeed make matches more dynamic and discourage the strategy of boxing themselves in using builds, though it can be a hassle for casual players.
Will Epic Games ever revert Fortnite’s movement changes?
Epic Games has acknowledged hearing players’ concerns regarding the recent movement changes in Fortnite. While this openness suggests the possibility of reverting these changes in the future if players fail to adapt, Epic currently views the change as being in its early stages and not worth changing drastically. The company will, however, try to speed up gameplay again while keeping the new animations as they are.
However, it’s unlikely that anything beyond the speed increase will be made in the early weeks of Chapter Five, season one, as the company is still monitoring player adaptation and feedback.
