Fortnite Festival Commits to Rock Band-like Mode Support Through 2025 and Beyond

Epic Games has confirmed that it will continue to support Fortnite Festival, the game’s Rock Band-style mode developed by Harmonix, for the foreseeable future. This announcement comes as Festival celebrates its first anniversary, offering players access to all 285 tracks for a limited time.

Fortnite Festival is one of the several new modes Epic Games introduced to expand the game beyond its shooter origins. Other additions include Lego Fortnite, which has performed well, and Rocket Racing, an arcade racer mode by Psyonix. However, Rocket Racing will no longer receive regular themed content updates and does not offer further cosmetic rewards.

Fortnite’s main modes, Battle Royale and Zero Build, attract hundreds of thousands of concurrent players. In contrast, Lego Fortnite typically has tens of thousands of players, while Fortnite Festival usually has around 15,000 players. Rocket Racing has the lowest player count, in the single-digit thousands.

Fortnite Festival has a clear monetization route with a seasonal pass featuring a particular music star and the option to purchase music tracks. The mode has spotlighted artists like The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Metallica, and Snoop Dogg. To celebrate the end of 2024, Epic Games is releasing “platinum” versions of the original skins for The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, and Karol G, along with XP quests for playing their music.

Local Co-op Support Announced

In a recent update, Epic Games announced that Fortnite Festival will introduce local co-op support, allowing up to four players to play together on Xbox and PlayStation consoles. This feature, set to go live on January 14, 2025, will support compatible plug-in instruments and controllers, similar to Rock Band.

This new feature is part of the ongoing efforts to enhance Fortnite Festival. The mode is set to include a new Jam Stage for Season 7, inspired by Japanese culture and featuring Hatsune Miku. The stage will have blue and purple ambient lighting, reflecting the theme of Chapter 6 Season 1.

Future Plans and Updates

Epic Games is committed to making 2025 and beyond bigger for Fortnite Festival. The team is already working on new content and surprises to keep the mode engaging. With the introduction of local co-op, players can now enjoy the musical experience with friends in the same physical location.

The addition of local co-op is expected to boost player engagement and attract more users to the mode. Given the success of similar features in games like Rock Band, this update could revitalize interest in Fortnite Festival. Epic Games will continue to provide updates and new content to keep the mode fresh and exciting.

Monetization and Player Engagement

Fortnite Festival’s monetization model, which includes a seasonal pass and the ability to purchase music tracks, has been successful. This model allows players to support their favorite artists and enjoy their music within the game. The seasonal passes often feature exclusive content and rewards, which helps in maintaining player interest.

The upcoming local co-op feature is likely to enhance player engagement by allowing friends to play together, creating a more social and interactive experience. This could lead to increased player retention and attract new players who are drawn to the social aspect of gaming.

Conclusion

Fortnite Festival is set to continue its growth with the introduction of local co-op support and new content updates. Epic Games’ commitment to this mode ensures that players will have a continuous stream of new music, features, and challenges to enjoy. As the game celebrates its first anniversary, it is clear that Fortnite Festival is here to stay and will remain a vibrant part of the Fortnite ecosystem.