Before Fortnite became known globally as a Battle Royale game, it struggled to gain popularity. Initially released as a Player versus Environment (PvE) game called Save the World, it did not attract much interest and seemed poised to join the many failed live service titles in the market.
However, Fortnite’s sudden shift to a Battle Royale format revitalised its success. Despite this, the Save the World campaign has continued to exist as a paid product. Epic Games has now announced that from 16 April 2026, Save the World will transition to a free-to-play model within Fortnite.
In this mode, players can join forces with friends and other gamers to construct forts and defend against monsters, resembling a spin on the tower defence genre. Those who had purchased Save the World will receive rewards, including gold, vouchers, and superchargers, as a gesture of appreciation. Epic Games also stated that previous buyers will continue to earn V-Bucks, the in-game currency, through daily quests and missions.
Currently, the Save the World campaign cannot be purchased, as Epic Games has removed it from stores in preparation for the free-to-play release. Existing players can still enjoy the game, and new players can express their interest by pre-registering. Exciting bonuses, such as exclusive skins, will be available based on set milestones before the April launch.
This announcement comes shortly after news of an increase in the price of V-Bucks, which has been a popular way to earn currency in Fortnite. This change to a free-to-play format may have influenced the decision to raise the price of V-Bucks.
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