Epic Games, known for its periodic introduction of limited-time modes (LTMs) in Fortnite, recently unveiled Ship It Express—a holiday-themed Zero Build LTM that enlists players into four-player squads.
A Festive Addition with Lingering Woes
Tasked with surviving until the match's culmination, players engage in mode-specific quests, adding twists to the typical battle royale experience. From investigating stolen present stashes to exploring Ship It Express locations, the mode offers varied challenges and entertainment.
Epic Games/Photo taken from Fornite's official website.
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Backlash Over Undermined Enjoyment
Despite its potential for fun, Ship It Express encountered a wave of criticism from Fortnite enthusiasts. A Reddit post highlighted a player's dissatisfaction with the mode, citing the intrusion of guns brought in by certain players that marred the overall experience. With only around 6,000 participants engaged in the mode, concerns surfaced that Epic Games might perceive its low engagement as a failure, potentially impacting future LTMs.
The original poster expressed concern that Epic Games might use Ship It Express's purported poor performance as an excuse to discontinue LTMs, attributing the mode's issues to what they deemed as the developer's incompetence.
The discontent spread across Reddit, with users echoing disappointment over Ship It Express's execution. One user pointed out the mode's significance as the first regular Battle Royale LTM since Chapter 3 Season 1, emphasizing their dismay at its perceived mishandling.
Moreover, the lack of visibility for the new LTM within the game drew criticism, with a fan highlighting the challenge of identifying its existence amidst other game modes.
To note, Epic Games' team was on a holiday break, potentially impacting prompt fixes for Ship It Express issues. Nonetheless, Winterfest 2023, including Ship It Express, will end on January 2 at 9:00 AM ET.
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