Fortnite OG Returns for Good In December, With Original Maps, Loot and More

Fortnite players, get ready to party like it’s 2017. On Tuesday, Epic Games announced that Fortnite OG is returning on Dec. 6, and this time, it’s staying for good. Fortnite OG allows players to experience the game as it was when it was first released back in September 2017.

“Relive Battle Royale from the start and explore the OG map, collect OG loot, and relive OG seasons,” the social-media message said. “Drop back in on December 6.”

A representative for Epic Games did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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The throwback will be nostalgic for some players, and brand new to others.

“This map was around before half the player base was born,” said one Instagram commenter.

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Said another, “Kids aren’t gonna know what to do, ‘this isn’t Fortnite.'”

Fortnite OG relaunched for a limited time in November 2023, and apparently did well. In December 2023, the Fortnite official social-media account tweeted that the return “exceeded our expectations … so much so that we’d like to bring it back (in 2024).”

Exceeded their expectations and then some: The 2023 return led to Fortnite’s biggest day ever, with over 44.7 million players.

The 2023 return of Fortnite OG only lasted a month, but this comeback is set to be permanent.

Fortnite isn’t alone in its retro renaissance. Overwatch announced on Nov. 12 it was launching an Overwatch Classic mode, where gamers can play as one of the game’s original 21 heroes. This won’t last like the Fortnite OG launch, however. Overwatch Classic is a three-week-long event in Overwatch 2. 

Two other games, Call of Duty Warzone and Apex Legends, are also trying nostalgic games, thanks to the success of Fortnite OG’s return.