Summary
Although its over-the-top action and fast-paced gunplay get the bulk of the credit for the game’s ongoing success, Epic Games’Fortnitealso relies on another, equally appealing feature to keep players coming back year after year. From colorful character skins to weapon wraps based on some of gaming and pop culture’s biggest properties, the wide assortment of cosmetic customizations available toFortnitefans has consistently been one of the Battle Royale title’s biggest draws. One new item in particular, the rare Water Levels Wrap, has introduced one ofFortnite’s most creative cosmetic options yet and raised the bar for the game’sweapon skins going forward.
Fortnitefans are familiar with unlocking weapon skins offering everything from unique color combos to impressive animated designs, but the Water Levels Wrap takes things to new heights by introducing adiegetic display for in-game info. A first for Epic’s online shooter, this rare wrap’s unique functionality shows that there’s room forFortniteto add some truly creative cosmetics moving forward. By following this same formula for future skins,Fortnitecould even ensure that an altered appearance is only part of the appeal of trying out a new weapon wrap.
Fortnite’s Water Levels Wrap Raises the Bar
Introduced as one ofFortnite’s All Sweat Summer event rewardsin early July, the Water Levels wrap not only sports some impressive animation, it also has an easily overlooked hidden feature. While it’s hard to miss the animated water of the gun’s skin splashing around realistically as players move about the map, eagle-eyed players noticed that the Water Levels Wrap also dynamically adjusts the amount of liquid present based on a gun’s ammo count. Though subtle, this ingenious addition makes the Water Levels Wrap one of the game’s most impressive cosmetics to date.
While the Water Levels Wrap is far from the firstFortnitecosmetic with custom animation, its unique functionality puts the splashy skin in a class by itself. Though most players are unlikely to give up glancing at a gun’s ammo counter and solely rely on reading the water level when using the rare wrap, its addition shows that weapon skins can offer far more than just a new look. Epic should expand on this concept moving forward and provide players with more cosmetics that dynamically react to the in-game action in creative and surprising ways.
New Fortnite Weapon Skins Should Double Down on Creativity
Instead of simply serving as a way for players to showcase their unique sense of style, futureFortniteweapon skins should follow the Water Levels Wrap’s lead and be more reactive to a player’s actions on the battlefield. One creative possibility would be introducing reactive weapon skins that change appearance based on kill count in a round. Rather than keeping a running tally of kills, functionality already found in somerareFortniteBack Blings, the skin could cause a player’s gun barrel to grow brighter with each successive elimination.
Of course, Epic would have to ensure that any in-game insights gained through the use of new weapon skins don’t give players an unfair advantage. For example, some players have already expressed concern that the Water Levels Wrap could give eagle-eyed opponents an edge in a firefight. For this reason,futureFortniteskinsthat follow its lead will need to walk a fine line between introducing creative new functionality and upsetting the overall balance of the game.
The diegetic ammo display on the Water Levels Wrap is undeniably impressive, but it illustrates just one of the many ways that Epic can makethe weapons inFortnitemore reactive to the world around them. By following this formula and adding more cosmetics that seamlessly blend creativity and functionality in novel ways,Fortnitecould ensure that future weapon skins will be sought after by players not just for how they look, but also for what they can do to help them up their game.
