The OG Fortnite Map Is Back As A Skin
Amidst arguments that it's a dead game and complaints about skill-based matchmaking, the biggest noise to come from the world of Fortnite is the call for the return of the original map. Ah, the simpler days of jumping off the Battle Bus to explore Haunted Hills, Lazy Lagoon, Wailing Woods, and Tomato Town. Long before Horizon Zero Dawn's Aloy was drawing back her bow, the Predator has us in its targets, Galactus planned on swallowing the map, or Aquaman was taking a dip, Chapter 1 of Fortnite was where it all began.
Although Fortnite rivals like Overwatch, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty: Warzone have become experts in reinventing themselves, none of them arguably do it as well as Fortnite. While each season tweaks the map and sees a new theme make you part with your V-Bucks for the Battle Pass, it was the destruction of the original map that really set Fortnite apart from everything else. Like it or lump it, Chapter 1 Season X's "The End" event left jaws on the floor and the OG map being sucked into oblivion - or was it?
What is the OG Fortnite map skin?
Even if our heart's desire for the original map coming back full-time hasn't been granted, we've got the next best thing in the form of Eco. Starting off as a fan design that brings the OG map back in skin form, Eco is live in the shop and comes just in time to celebrate World Earth Day. This mean, green, fighting machine homages all your favourite places from the Chapter 1 map and also comes with a reactive back bling.
Running through the POI tour of Eco, there's Loot Lake on its chest, Dusty Depot sits on the right thigh and Polar Peak on the right ankle. The left leg references Paradise Palms, Durr Burger and Tilted Towers are on the right arm, and there's a nod to the volcano event on the left arm. The iconic (if creepy) Tomato Town mascot sits on Eco's belt, and the helmet is its own throwback to the mysterious character known as The Visitor.
That's not all you get for your 1500 V-Bucks though. The Eco skin also comes with the aforementioned reactive back bling, which is a rotating version of the entire skin and includes a neat addition of an erupting volcano every time you get an elimination. Although not included in the main set, players can also nab the Devourer's Bane pickaxe (800 V-Bucks). This looks like the sword the Mech robot pulled from Neo Tilted - it even has the Devourer's skull still attached.
What do fans think of the OG Fortnite map skin?
Aside from the usual grumbles of "dead game", nostalgic Fortnite players seem to love the idea of Eco. With a shop reset coming, you'd better grab the OG map skin while you can. Of course, seeing all those Fortnite memories pop up on a skin has led to questions (again) about whether the Chapter 1 map will return. Last year, Tyler "Ninja" Blevins and Ali “SypherPK” Hassan discussed the idea of bringing back the original map.
Ninja has said that bringing back the original map wouldn't be that simple, meaning Epic would have to build a whole new map that wouldn't really be the same. Critics have pointed out you'd die by simply falling into the water, and elsewhere, there weren't even proper roads to connect the various POIs. You might love the Chapter 1 map, but it was definitely a flawed experience.
As the seasons have gone, the idea of restoring the map to its Chapter 1 glory have started to wane. Both Chapter 2 Season 5 and 6 had the perfect opportunity to do so. Then again, there are those that are convinced Chapter 2 is building toward another cataclysmic event similar to "The End". Whether we'll get a whole new map, stick with the current map, or bring back the OG, at least we can remember the good ol' days with the Eco skin.
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Images via Epic Games