Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

Epic Games delays Fortnite season 3 in wake of George Floyd protests

By

Epic Games has once again delayed Fortnite‘s long-awaited season 3.

Recommended Videos

In a letter to players on Wednesday, Epic said that Fortnite Season 3 will now launch on June 17, nearly a week after its planned release on June 11. A live virtual event called The Device that Epic had planned to hold in advance of the season has been pushed back to June 15. The company initially planned to host the event on Saturday.

Epic said in the letter that it made the decision following the tragic death of George Floyd last month and the racial injustice protests that have subsequently sprung up across the U.S.

“Recent events are a heavy reminder of ongoing injustices in society, from the denial of basic human rights to the impact of racism both overt and subtle against people of color,” the company wrote. “We’re acutely aware of the pain our friends, families, team members, players, and communities are experiencing.”

Epic said it will use the next two weeks to allow its “team to focus on themselves, their families, and their communities.”

Epic is the latest in a string of video game companies that have canceled or postponed events surrounding big announcements.

Electronic Arts was slated to unveil the new Madden NFL 21 on Monday but delayed the event because it didn’t want to distract from the protests. Sony had planned to hold a PlayStation 5 event on Thursday, where it was expected to unveil games for the console, but canceled it for the same reason. Infinity Ward, which had planned to release Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Call of Duty Warzone Season 4 on Wednesday, said “now is not the time” to be releasing new content.

Fortnite season 3 was supposed to debut on May 1, but Epic ultimately delayed it to June 4 without specifying a reason. The company then pushed its delay back again to June 11.

When the new season finally launches, it promises new maps and what Epic has called “fresh gameplay.” The company also said it has some surprises planned.

In its statement on Wednesday, Epic acknowledged the many delays, and said it appreciated player “patience and understanding during these difficult times.”

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger is a freelance technology, video game, and entertainment journalist. He has been writing about the world of…
Fortnite is coming back to iOS, but Epic Games still isn’t happy about it
Solid Snake aiming a pistol out of a box in Fortnite.

Fortnite is set to come back to iOS in Europe sometime in 2024. This will mark the first time a natively running version of Fortnite will be available on iOS since Apple removed the game from the App Store in 2020.

Apple did so at the time because Epic tried to use its own third-party payment system, kicking off a series of legal battles in an attempt to get Apple to open up its platform more. Although those legal battles have yielded mixed results for Epic, a newly passed Digital Markets Act in the European Union is forcing Apple to do things like "allow third parties to inter-operate with the gatekeeper’s own services in certain specific situations" and "allow their business users to promote their offer and conclude contracts with their customers outside the gatekeeper’s platform."

Read more
The best multiplayer games on PC
Monster Hunter Rise players hunting.

The PC space is home to some of the most experimental and diverse multiplayer games on the market. Sure, you can get your standard shooters, sports, and MMOs here too, but indie games often make their mark on this platform first. That gives PC users a near-endless selection of multiplayer games to sift through.

Many of the best multiplayer titles on PC are free-to-play games, and some are even crossplay enabled so you can enjoy the action with friends on PlayStation 5 or Xbox One. Whether you're looking for your next competitive challenge or a fun way to relax at the end of the day, there's bound to be a game with your name on it. Here are the best multiplayer titles currently available on PC.

Read more
The best games on Meta Quest 3
A product shot of the Meta Quest 3 shown in dramatic lighting over a gradient background.

VR headsets have become a successful niche for gamers who want to fully immerse themselves in their gaming experiences. There are plenty of options out there in terms of which headset you could go with, including Sony's PSVR2 and Oculus, but the latest and greatest is the Meta Quest 3. This is the upgraded version of the already impressive Quest 2, and it not only boasts more powerful hardware, but also new features that can add even more immersion to games. This headset is fresh on the market, so if you picked one up and are looking for the best games to test it out, we've collected the ones you should dive into.

Asgard’s Wrath II

Read more