There is absolutely no doubt that Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 1 started with a bang. It not only took players to a new map entirely, but it also brought in new game mechanics and even updated things with Unreal Engine 5.1.
Though this is all amazing new content for most players, there’s a small marginalized group of them that are having a difficult time being able to enjoy this and even the least year’s worth of content in many ways. So today, let’s talk about why Fortnite Chapter 4 is bad news for mobile players.
Why Fortnite Chapter 4 is Bad News for Mobile Players
Giving a brief history of Fortnite’s updates over the last year or so, the game spring-boarded off of its very long Chapter 2 which contained 8 seasons and was a staple in the game for over two years, keeping the same map around for that time. Flash-forward to the beginning of 2022 and players were treated to a brand-new Chapter of content as well as a new map, and even some upgraded visuals.
But while Chapter 2 was pretty great on mobile devices, Chapter 3 was different. Players were met with a myriad of problems along the way, with the worst offender being the taxing issues it would take on players’ devices due to the game simply being unoptimized.
The worst part is that Chapter 3 ran for less than a year, which made mobile players feel like there wasn’t enough time set to help iron out the issues on their end once Chapter 4 came along with its massive updates in visuals.
Why Fortnite is Poorly Optimized on Mobile
Fortnite on mobile devices has had a difficult past as you cannot play it at all natively on iOS devices, and you can only play it on Android devices by downloading it directly from Epic Games’ own third-party launcher. Because of this, updates and optimization doesn’t really seem to be watched over as closely since there’s no Play Store or App Store looking over Epic Games’ shoulder to keep an eye on the game and make sure it works correctly.
I owned an Android device during the majority of Chapter 3 and can certainly say that there was a huge dip in quality coming off of Chapter 2. I had issues with frame rates, the loading time it took to actually get into games, and even just being about to navigate the map at all. It got to the point where I just stopped playing altogether on the device.
Though many players who used a mobile device during the Chrome event say that the Chrome aspect absolutely made the game even more unplayable because devices simply couldn’t handle what was going on since it just wasn’t optimized correctly. But could this have been avoided?
Many have said that they wished Chapter 3 could have stuck around longer so that Epic Games had a better chance to fix these issues. But I would disagree with that sentiment. I honestly don’t think Epic Games is paying much attention to mobile devices, for one reason or another. At least when it comes to Android.
The biggest problem that Android users are going to face in Chapter 4 is the fact that the game’s got yet another graphical overhaul, this one even bigger than the last. It’s implemented Unreal Engine 5.1 features which include better textures, lighting, and shadows, among other things which make the game look like a totally new experience from the last Chapter. So this really is a recipe for disaster for those playing on that unoptimized Android port.
Related: How to Use the Party Time Augment in Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 1
How to Improve Lag on Fortnite Mobile
If you want to try to get the best experience out of playing on Android, then the best way to do that is to remove some of that input lag. To do this, you’ll want to change up some of your settings. Go to your Video tab in the settings and change your Mobile Framerate to 60 FPS, change 3D Resolution to Auto, enable the Show FPS option, and allow Low Power Mode to reduce strain on your phone.
It’s also best to clear any other running apps from the background. And lastly, go ahead and make sure the app is in fact updated to current standards. Other players have also attributed playing with a wired controller to lower input lag issues too. This has also worked for me in the past as well, and you can’t beat the comfort when compared to touch-controls.
What is the Best Way to Play Fortnite On Mobile?
Personally, I found that there are two ways to play Fortnite in a mobile fashion that can do the trick perfectly if you just don’t own a PC, PlayStation, or Xbox, or just don’t want to have to sit up to play it on your TV or monitor.
The first and cheapest method is to play it through the Xbox Game Pass app via xCloud. There are pros and cons to this method and the peaks and valleys are actually quite substantial. To do it this way, you can only be playing on iOS, meaning that Android users are still going to be left playing on that unoptimized “game” that Epic Games runs through their third-party download.
The good thing about playing this way is that the game is actually cloud-based, so you won’t have to download it to your device, which saves space, and you get the best visuals and performance possible since it won’t be running off of your phone’s CPU.
The downside here though is that because it’s cloud-based, the game can have issues if your connectivity to the internet isn’t at peak performance. You could experience frame loss, rubberbanding, and even connection issues that boot you from the game entirely.
The other thing to note is that you can only play on Xbox Game Pass if you have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription which runs for $14.99 a month. So if you don’t own an Xbox console or at least a PC, then your money is really being stretched thin just for one game. Though many players may say that Fortnite is absolutely worth it, and I would agree.
If you had to ask me the best way to play Fortnite on the go, I’d actually have to take the cop-out route and say the Nintendo Switch. Though it’s a console, Nintendo Switch, at least for me, is used more when I’m out and about or laying down and relaxing. I rarely ever use the thing in docked mode either.
The good thing about Fortnite on the Switch too is that it’s actually optimized pretty well for the device. I rarely run into any issues playing. My connectivity is always strong, visuals are decent enough, and input lag isn’t remotely a thing. The only downside is the weirdly placed Joy-Con thumbsticks. But that’s Nintendo’s fault.
So if you really want the best Fortnite experience, then your best bet is going to be by moving to the Nintendo Switch. It isn’t the cheapest choice, but at least you know you’ll get to play the game without issue every time you go to pick it up. A great second choice is going to be the xCloud method, even though it can be dodgy at times. It still beats the mess that players on Android are facing.
Could Fortnite Get a Facelift on Android?
My hope is that Epic Games, Google, and Apple will eventually get to an agreement where Fortnite can finally return to their digital storefronts. Only then can we expect that Fortnite will return to greatness on full-fledged mobile devices that run on Android and iOS.
With how big Fortnite continues to get, It’s kind of incredible that Epic Games hasn’t just cut its losses and brought it back to those digital storefronts. But it says that the cut those companies wanted of sales was too large, so until they all get on the same page, players are going to have to play Fortnite in the most difficult ways possible, at least for now.
At the very least, I think Epic Games should go into that mobile version of the game and buff it out so that its loyal player base can enjoy it, no matter the platform they’re playing on. It’s only fair and makes the most sense currently.
Well, now you know why Fortnite Chapter 4 is bad news for mobile players, specifically those on the Android app from Epic Games. Hopefully, the company can sort things out and get the game back on track to at least a decently playable state.
If you’re having a good time with Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 1, then be sure to check out some of our other great pieces of coverage on it and even some of our helpful guides, such as “What Are Capture Points in Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 1? Answered”.
