March 5, 2019 Ninja’s new map is actually not really a new map at all.
The “new map” that Fortnite streamer Ninja referred to in a stream last night is actually not a new map at all. In the wake of Ninja’s comments, Samsung US tweeted to clarify that the event that Ninja was advertising last night would in fact take place within the game’s Creative Mode.
That event is primarily intended to show off the new Galaxy S10 phones. Due to the make’s previous attachment to Epic’s battle royale, Fortnite and Ninja will be there, along with K-pop group iKON. As noted by Fortnite Intel, in his on-stream advertisement, the streamer said that he’d be playing on “a brand-new map literally built for this event that you guys can participate in.”
Unsurprisingly, that wasn’t a stealth announcement of a second Fortnite map. Samsung US clarified last night that the event will feature “a new Fortnite Creative Island,” rather than a whole new location.
That’s no great surprise, of course – Epic has already said that a new map isn’t a priority, and has only just overhauled the Fortnite Season 8 map. The speed at which the game’s environment changes borders on alarming, so there’s no real need for somewhere new to play.
That said, it’s not out of the question. PUBG has rolled out three new maps since its launch in 2017, and the developers of new kid on the block Apex Legends are already talking about alternatives to King’s Canyon.
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In an interview a year ago with IGN’s Expert Mode, lead designer Eric Williamson, said that while the concept of more battle royale maps has been discussed, the team’s focus is on improving the map they already have; “There’s no urgency to create a new map right now, it’s not something we’re getting a sense of urgency for. It’s not a priority right now.”
Clarification on the earlier Ninja stream: Bludrive is designing a new Fortnite Creative Island for the upcoming Samsung event on 3/16.
— Samsung Mobile US (@SamsungMobileUS) March 4, 2019
Williamson said it’s more important to continue “to evolve and make the map feel fresh.” That’s something we’ve continued to see in the game, including the recently released season 8.