Fortnite's New Season Is Its Most Divisive Yet

Gamers are mad at Epic Games, and no, it's not because of more shady "Fortnite" business. Instead, it's because of totally legitimate "Fortnite" business. The game just launched a new season with new mechanics aimed at apocalyptic gearheads, but it turns out that a good chunk of the "Fortnite" playerbase isn't all that interested.

"Fortnite Battle Royale — Chapter 5 Season 3: Wrecked" is quite the mouthful, but it's also an apt title. The new season encourages players to hop in a vehicle and nitro blast their way across the map. Vehicles have been a part of the game for a long time now, but this season puts them front and center in a whole new way, complete with speed boosts, increased armor, and powerful weapons that can be retrofitted onto a car before flooring it into the heat of battle. All the vehicular action feels like it's right out of a "Mad Max" movie, but it's actually meant to tie into the season's "Fallout" theme. Fan-favorite elements like Nuka-Cola and Power Armor are also making their way into the free-to-play game, but the vehicle mechanics have already proven to be so divisive that some people might never actually stop to appreciate the clever "Fallout" references. Even high-profile superfans like Ninja are ready to jump ship.

The biggest issue with the cars in the new "Fortnite" season is that they're simply overpowered. It would have been bad enough if the new mechanics just included some heavily armored vehicles and nitro boosts, since that alone would be enough to send players driving through buildings and rolling right over their opponents before they can put up a fight. When you throw in the added vehicle weapons and upgrades, anyone still traversing the map on foot doesn't stand a chance.

A great number of fans are upset that the new car-centric meta has basically transformed "Fortnite" into a different game. In a majority of matches, the person who gets the most souped-up ride is all but guaranteed to win. Try running across an open field when eight different people are driving around at max speed with massive turrets strapped to the back of their cars. It just isn't happening.

There are weapons that can take cars down, and there are even some new additions — like the Nitro Fists – that seem to be designed specifically as car-counters. The problem is that it's easier to get a car than it is to come by a weapon that can dispatch it. Plus, if someone mods their car or unlocks one of the boss cars in a match, taking them out becomes exponentially harder.

It's not just average players who are disappointed with the new "Fortnite" seasonal mechanic. Ninja just might be the world's biggest "Fortnite" fan, but even he is reaching a breaking point with the cars. In a profanity-laden rant, Ninja spelled out exactly why he isn't enjoying the new season, saying, "If I was a five-year-old that still loved cool cars, I would be having the time of my life. But I'm a 32-year-old grown man that likes to f****** shoot things in video games."

Ninja isn't alone in pointing out how this season's car focus shifts the core gameplay in "Fortnite," but he arguably has a more informed perspective on the changes than most. Despite a vow to quit "Fortnite" till next season, Ninja was begrudgingly back at in a stream on Tuesday, during which he discussed why he thinks Epic made a major misstep. He pointed out that build players are hit particularly hard by the new meta because car players can destroy pretty much any structure in their path, winning matches without ever needing to interact with any of the game's famed building mechanics.

Compared to other big "Fortnite" scandals, the new car controversy is pretty tame. Even some folks who think the cars are OP, like Ninja's buddy SypherPK, are still enjoying the ride. There's always a chance that the balance issues will be addressed in a future patch. And if not, there's at least some comfort in knowing that, like most seasonal mechanics in "Fortnite," this too shall pass.