Combat-free Fortnite mode leaks, turns shooter into a Party Royale

By Tyler Treese Published April 30, 2020

Leaks indicate that Epic Games is adding an island to Fortnite that’ll allow players to hang out and play non-violent minigames together in a new Party Royale mode.

Party Royale is a limited-time event according to Fortnite leaker ShiinaBR on Twitter, who found a description after going through data added in the latest update. All the activities will take place on a new island called Papaya. Map icons indicate that the unannounced mode will feature skydiving, glider challenges, and races that take place both on foot and in vehicles. There’s even a soccer ball shown, which teases some sort of minigame based on “the beautiful game.”

Recommended Videos

Leaked "Papaya" Map!

(via @VastBlastt & @FNBRHQ) pic.twitter.com/DmKxeK0XUj

— Shiina (@ShiinaBR) April 29, 2020

Please enable Javascript to view this content

“Welcome to the Party!” the leaked description reads. “Leave your weapons and mats behind and hang out with friends, play games, perfect your skydive, and more. The party’s just getting started!”

Also found on the Papaya map is a central plaza filled with phone boxes that allow players to swap skins during play sessions. The Devourer skeleton from Fortnite‘s original map is also seen on the shoreline.

There will also be nine communication emotes specifically made for Papaya. These include waving your hand, sitting down, shaking your head no, an affirmative nod, clapping, cheering, calling players over, pointing at objects, and waving your phone.

Beyond the Party Royale mode, files point toward another limited-time event called Operation Payload being added. Similar to Overwatch, this round-based mode tasks two teams with either escorting or attempting to stop a payload. Roles will switch each round, and it’s said that players will also pick different tech abilities.

As with Party Royale, it’s unknown when or if Epic will add Operation Payload to Fortnite. Epic recently teased “a couple more surprises” when it extended the second season of chapter 2 from April 30 to June 4.

The possible addition of a non-violent mode isn’t completely unexpected as Fortnite has been experimenting with activities inside the popular shooter since last year. This includes the recent Travis Scott concert, which saw 27 million players check out over its five showings and helped the game set a record for the most concurrent players. If added soon, it will also give kids and adults a way to hang out safely with their friends while adhering to social distancing.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

When not playing or writing about games, Tyler Treese serves as the Senior Editor at Wrestlezone. An experienced writer that…

Gaming

Fortnite OG is bringing back the shooter’s original map for good

Four Fortnite characters standing side by side in the original Fortnite OG season.

Fortnite OG, a limited-time mode that brought back the original island from all the way back in Season 1, is coming back to the game -- for good this time.

Epic Games announced in a post on X that Fortnite OG is "combing BACK and is here to stay" starting December 6. That means players can experience the original map and loot starting with Chapter 1, Season 1 from all the way back in 2017, when Fortnite was less of the pop culture metaverse juggernaut it is today.

Gaming

Fortnite is cutting down on item FOMO with new store change

The TMNT Fortnite skins. We have all four turtles in fighting poses in front of a purple background.

Fortnite practically runs on FOMO (fear of missing out). if you don't get the item you want in a battle pass, you'll most likely never get the chance again. So if you wanted to run around as Goku and missed when the excellent skin was available? Tough luck.

But that policy is changing soon. Developer Epic Games announced in a blog post that items could be made available in the Shop 18 months after their respective battle passes expired at the least. That includes alt styles, which might also come to the Shop, along with licensed outfits you may have missed out on. This also applies to items that may have been unlocked after a battle pass launch.

Gaming

All Medallion locations in Fortnite Chapter 5, Season 3

Ringleader scarr on a car in Fortnite.

A new season of Fortnite means a new cast of bosses with unique items to obtain. This season, your reward for besting the new Mad Max-inspired bosses is Medallions. These items, which first appeared in Season 1, grant your character some of the best buffs in the game. Unlike previous seasons, this time there are only three new bosses, and thus three Medallions to find and equip during a match. The only way to get them is to locate the bosses and manage to take them down. We can't help you in the fight itself, but can at least show you where to go and what each Medallion does.
All Medallion locations

The three bosses this season are Ringmaster Scarr, The Machinist, and Megalo Don. Each one appears in a different POI on the map and drops a unique Medallion.
Ringmaster Scarr
Scarr is found in the Nitrodome near the center of the map toward the south. She drops the Ringmaster's Medallion, which grants you unlimited ammo and a minor damage boost.
The Mechanist
Down near the south coast and slightly east is the Redline Rig POI, which is The Mechanist's lair. His Medallion will allow your shield to regenerate over time.
Megalo Don
The big bad of the season, and the most difficult boss of the trio, is Megalo Don. You can find him in the Brutal Beachhed POI, which is the giant ship beached far to the south and west of Redline Rig. If you manage to take this boss down you can get his Medallion, which gives your character, and by extension your vehicle, infinite Nitro.