Epic Games has changed Fortnite’s cosmetic item shop and player inventories (lockers). The main update removes the traditional color-coded rarity system used to classify skins, pickaxes, emotes, and other cosmetics. Items will no longer be labeled as Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, or Legendary. That’s insane to me; I can’t even justify it in my head as a player.
The decision to remove cosmetic rarities from Fortnite has sparked debate among fans. Many are unhappy, as the rarity tiers were important for showing the value and prestige of your collected items. Furthermore, the absence of rarity-based sorting makes it harder for players with large inventories to find specific cosmetics. It’s really strange to do this. There is a rumor that Epic is using this change as a strategy to hide the true value of items and promote the purchase of more expensive cosmetics.
“The Shop has evolved significantly to support multiple types of cosmetics and items across games, so we’re retiring the old Battle Royale-inspired system of colors and tags for cosmetic quality. Different Series of cosmetics — such as the Icon Series or Gaming Legends Series — will still be there to help you find your favorite stuff!”
Epic Games
Epic Games promptly addressed these concerns through social media and explained its decision. The recent change to remove color labeling from Fortnite shop items was intended to simplify the appearance of Fortnite (Locker, Shop, etc.) and eliminate outdated Battle Royale-inspired systems. The overall approach and pricing strategy remain unchanged despite this adjustment.
I disagree with this; the player base hasn’t asked it and is almost universally hated. There has to be more behind this decision. Epic Games made this decision to adapt to the changes in Fortnite’s shop. The company sees the old system as outdated with the addition of new items like music tracks, virtual instruments, and digital Legos. Cosmetics will now be grouped into different Series, such as the Icon Series, which includes real-world personalities, or the Gaming Legends Series, which features video game crossovers.
In addition to those updates, Epic will introduce shop rotation dates for separate cosmetic items. Starting in late May 2024, players will find a date on an item’s description page showing when it is set to rotate out of the shop. This gives clear information on how long a specific item will be up for purchase.
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