Fortnite’s Classic Mode Makes a Comeback as Free to Play

The original game mode in Fortnite, where players constructed forts to fend off waves of zombies called Husks, is set to go free-to-play after more than eight years. Epic Games announced that Fortnite: Save the World will transition to a free-to-play model on April 16.

Over the years, Fortnite: Save the World has been available at various price points, with Epic recently offering it as part of a $19.99 bundle that included Fortnite V-Bucks. When it launched in 2017, this survival mode debuted in early access for $39.99. As of now, Epic has removed Fortnite: Save the World from digital storefronts in preparation for its free-to-play relaunch next month.

While Fortnite is widely recognized for its battle royale mode introduced in 2017, the original loot-and-build survival game, later rebranded as Save the World, had been in development for years prior. It was first revealed to the public in 2012 at Comic-Con in San Diego and marked Epic’s first title built on Unreal Engine 4, initially intended for PC with plans to eventually go free-to-play. Although Epic initially shelved the free-to-play concept for Save the World, it has now decided to implement it in 2026.

Fortnite: Save the World will be available for free on platforms including Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. It will also be accessible via game-streaming services like Amazon Luna, Nvidia GeForce Now, and Xbox Cloud Gaming. However, it will not be available on smartphones, tablets, or the original Nintendo Switch, according to Epic.

Epic has opened pre-registration for the free-to-play launch of Save the World, aiming for 1 million registered players. To incentivize sign-ups, Epic is offering in-game rewards, including a free Save the World hero. Players who have previously purchased Save the World will receive Superchargers, Vouchers, and Gold on April 16. Additionally, those who bought in at the Founders level will continue to earn V-Bucks through daily quests, mission alerts, Storm Shield Defense Missions, and existing challenges.