Fortnite v9.40 Patch Notes – Tactical Shotgun, Bug Fixes, and more

Tactical Shotgun – Epic & Legendary
The Tac is back in an all new form. Drop in and try out the Epic and Legendary variants now!

WEAPONS + ITEMS

• New Epic and Legendary Tactical Shotgun.
  • 83 / 87 maximum damage.
  • 1.5 shots per second.
  • Holds 8 shells.
  • Headshot multiplier of 2.25.
  • Available from Floor Loot, Chests, Supply Drops, Loot Carriers, and Vending Machines.
• Semi-Auto Sniper Rifle now has reduced zoom while scoped.
  • This is a Quality of Life change to help improve the usability and feel of this weapon.
• Combat Shotgun changes
  • Reduced Headshot multiplier from 1.7 to 1.5.
  • Reduced the long range effectiveness of the Combat Shotgun
    • Reduced the falloff curve ranges from:
      • 2.44 tiles (unchanged)
      • 4.88 tiles to 4.39 tiles.
      • 9.77 tiles to 6.84 tiles.
      • 19.53 tiles to 11.72 tiles.
  • After observing recent changes to damage falloff, we decided to further reduce its long range effectiveness and alter the curve to fall a bit more in line with other shotguns but still retain its unique flavor. 
• Vaulted
  • Suppressed Bolt-Action Sniper Rifle
    • Epic and Legendary variants.
• Unvaulted
  • Bolt-Action Sniper Rifle
    • Rare, Epic, and Legendary variants.

Bug Fixes

• Drum Shotgun now has the correct environmental damage falloff.
• Fixed a bug in which a Launch Pad couldn’t be destroyed by a pickaxe.

GAMEPLAY

• Picking up an item that fills a stack and creates an overflow will no longer result in the currently equipped item being dropped.
  • Instead of causing the currently equipped weapon to be dropped, the overflow will be dropped.
• Players will now automatically pick up a consumable if it is already in their inventory and not maxed out.
  • If the auto pickup fills a stack, the overflow will be dropped.
• A new Glider and Harvesting Tool have been added for Save the World Founder’s Pack owners.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue involving Supply Drone Boxes not being visible after players shoot down the Supply Drone.
• Supply Drones no longer remain stationary after getting stuck for too long.
• Changed Invert “Aircraft Keyboard Controls” to “Invert Airborne Keyboard Controls” in the Options menu to reflect the fact that airborne land vehicles’ controls become inverted in the air.
• Fixed some edge cases involving damage number display rounding down for some shotgun hits.
• Blueprint doors now consistently render when players are building.
• Players can now pick up items more easily when standing on top of them.
• Foot controllers now properly allow players to rotate the next and previous weapon.
• Bushes no longer block players from being healed by a Chug Splash.
• If a player using a Shadow Bomb enters a vehicle, the Shadow Bomb effect will no longer remain active after the effect should have ended.
• The Chug Splash now properly auto-sorts to the rightmost inventory slot when picked up, like other consumables.
• Fixed an issue in which players would experience abnormally slow gliding after using a Rift-to-Go.
• Consumables associated with a bar (Shield Potion, Med Kit, etc.) are now consistently usable by players riding a Zipline.
• Fixed a rare issue involving Shadow Bombs not allowing for wall jumps at certain angles.
• Players can no longer wall jump off of the corn fields while using a Shadow Bomb.
• Players can no longer wall jump off of Slipstreams while using a Shadow Bomb.
• Fixed an issue in which the rings for Fortbytes 4, 67, 70, and 89 would not appear even though the player was wearing the correct cosmetic.
• To prevent players from exploiting the Deep Dab emote, it now has a delay before players are able to shoot after starting it.
• Fixed an issue in which damage done to shields was causing the VFX to appear larger than normal, blocking players’ vision.
• Foot Controller support improvements
  • Switched over to use dead zone and max throttle end points.
  • Better vehicle controls for Quad Crasher.

COMPETITIVE

• New Tournament: Xbox Cup (July 20th & 21st) [$1,000,000 in Cash Prizes!]
  • Solo Game Mode
  • This tournament is open to all players on Xbox One and does not require reaching any division in Arena.
  • The prize pool will be distributed across all server regions, with official rules and details released later this week.  Check the tournament inside the game client for exact times.
  • Format:
    • July 20th – Round One: All Eligible Players
    • July 21st – Round Two: Top 1500 Players from Round One
• Players can now choose a flag to display on their career profile.
  • This flag can be selected and changed from a player’s profile.
  • After changing or selecting their flag, players cannot change flags again for 30 days.
  • A player’s flag is visible to others when visiting a player’s profile and on tournament leaderboards.
  • For teams of two or more players, the flag chosen by the majority of the team will be displayed. If there is no majority, the globe flag will be displayed.
  • We are launching with an initial set of 37 total flags. Any additional flags added in the future will be announced in future updates.

PERFORMANCE

• Improved server performance of Zipline.
• Improved client performance of Chug Jug.
• Optimized the way pickaxes are spawned to reduce the chance of loading issues during the initial skydive landing.

AUDIO

• Improved enemy footstep volume consistency, and changed volume falloff to logarithmic to make the sound diminish more naturally.
• Decreased volume of a few sounds:
  • Chug Splash explosion.
  • Proximity Launcher explosion.
  • Ambient hum of the Slipstream platforms.
• Added a wall impact audio layer for close quarters combat as an additional warning that an enemy is shooting a structure you’re on the opposite side of.

Bug Fixes

• Wood/stone/metal bullet impacts are no longer silent on Mobile/Switch.
• Revolver equip sound is no longer silent on Mobile/Switch.

UI

• Escape Menu & Social Panel updates:
  • The input action that would bring up either the Escape Menu or Social Panel will now bring up both of them in the lobby and while in a match.
  • A third tab has been added to the Social Panel. It contains all voice chat-related functionalities.
  • The Escape Menu and Top Bar received a visual update.

MOBILE

• Added new Edit From Touch setting to enable/disable editing from touches (defaulted to enabled).
• Bluetooth microphones have been enabled to support voice chat.
• The emote wheel buttons are now bigger.

Bug Fixes

• Air Strike shots no longer create large polygonal outlines.
• Fixed an issue involving Pump and Combat Shotguns not correctly firing while Auto-Fire is selected.
• Resolved voice chat issues when joining another player’s party.
• The chest located in the Neo Tilted hotel is now openable.
• Live spectating on mobile will display the spectator’s UI.
• Players no longer remain logged into their account when they close the game.
• Wallet in the Lifetime Refund Screen will now correctly display.
• Leaving the “Show Help” open in the Warm Up stage won’t cause the Button to remain present during the match.
• The “Tournament Region” text in the Compete tab is bigger.
• Map Marker HUD Layout won’t be displayed when in the Battle Bus.
• Emote HUD Layout will be displayed only in vehicles where it is possible to emote.
• Players will be able to rotate cosmetics when using a touchpad.
• The proper SFX will be played when equipping the Revolver.
• Graphical improvement on the Wonder outfit while playing the Llama Bell emote.
• Storm Eye Glider and Storm Bolt Harvesting Tool will display proper VFX.
• Graphical improvement of the Flutter outfit.
• Graphical improvement on the String Lights contrail.
• Lantern contrail will display properly in-game.

Kevin’s Floating Island

• Build a floating fortress on a new island! Kevin is back.

Ball Spawner

• Play ball! Add physics-based balls to your world to create a whole slew of new game types and player interactions.

More Channels To Triggers & Receivers

• The number of channels for Triggers & Receivers have been increased so you can automate even more mayhem in your maps.

Bug Fixes

 

• Published islands no longer rotate 180 degrees on the mini-map causing the lighting to be inconsistent.

 

GAMEPLAY

• Updated My Island settings
  • Added new option to Environment Damage
    • Player Built Only – during a game, players can damage player-built structures (wood, stone, metal) which have been built during map creation while in a game.
  • Added Building Damage option
    • Determines who has the ability to damage player-built structures built during a game.
    • All, Self Built, Team Built, Enemy Built, Enemy & Self Built, None (Default: All)
  • Added new options to Max Resources
    • 10,000,  50,000, 99,999

 

Bug Fixes

 

• Player-built structures can be edited prior to placing when Environment Damage settings are active.
• Players will no longer experience jump fatigue when the Jump Fatigue setting is set to Off.
• Unmanned vehicles will no longer phase through objects.

 

Known Issue

 

• Coins collected during a game do not appear while in Create mode during the same Creative session.
  • The coins remain interactable and appear in subsequent game starts.

 

WEAPONS + ITEMS

• New Epic and Legendary Tactical Shotgun.
  • 83 / 87 maximum damage.
  • 1.5 shots per second.
  • Holds 8 shells.
  • Headshot multiplier of 2.25.

 

CREATIVE TOOLS + PHONE

Bug Fixes

 

• Geyser from the Air Vent Gallery can now be interacted with correctly when using the Phone.

 

PREFABS & GALLERIES

• Added the Kevin Crater to the Air Vent Gallery.
• Added Ice Cream to the Consumables Gallery.
• Added the Soccer Goal to the Sports Gallery.
• Added the Pizza Pete Picture Frame and Wood Shavings to the No Collision Gallery.
• Added an additional tree to the Haunted Hills Nature Gallery.
• Added Blue Counters to the Diners Prop Gallery.
• Added more Ground Floors to Grass & Dirt Galleries A & B.
• Added more Sidewalks to Street Gallery B.

 

Bug Fixes

 

• Castle Banners can once again be destroyed while Environment Damage is OFF.
• Fixed the trash bag from clipping through the Paradise Palms steps.
• Bushes in the Indestructible Gallery are no longer destroyed by player building.
• Health bar no longer appears when copying the Bush in the Desert Nature Gallery.
• The Pueblo Trio Prefab now has the correct grid placement.
• The Kevin Cube Gallery now has two different Cube versions.
• Replaced some ceiling tiles in the Mega Mall Prefab.
• Fixed Cliff Gallery assets which were auto-destroying themselves when exiting the Phone.
• Prefab Grenades now explode on impact instead of bouncing.

 

DEVICES

• Increased the number of available Trigger channels to 24 and the number of available Receivers to 30.
• Added Ball Spawner device.
  • Spawns a ball with physics properties.
  • Size: Sets the size of the ball being spawned.
    • Small, Medium, Large, Super (Default: Medium)
  • Type: Sets the physical properties of the ball.
    • Default, Light, Heavy, Slick, Sport.
  • Player Force Multiplier: Determines how much force the player will apply when hitting the ball.
    • None, Low, Medium, High (Default: Medium)
  • Player Knockback Amount: Determines how much force will be applied to the player when they are hit by the ball.
    • None, Low, Medium, High (Default: None)
  • Respawn Delay: Determines how long the device will wait before spawning a new ball after the previous one has been destroyed.
    • None, 0.5 seconds, 1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds, 5 seconds (Default 3 seconds)
  • Gravity: Determines whether the ball is affected by gravity.
    • Off, On (Default: On)
  • Eliminate Player When Touched: Controls whether a player is eliminated when the ball touches them.
    • Off, On (Default: Off)
• Added Prop-O-Matic Manager device.
  • Controls Prop-O-Matic behavior and Prop Hunt game and UI settings.
  • Show Props Remaining: Yes, No
  • Prop Ping Frequency: Determines the length of time between forced audio pings from players hidden as props.
    • Off, 10 seconds, 15 seconds, 30 seconds (Default: 15 seconds)
• Add new options to Player Spawn Device.
  • Enabled During Phase: Determines when the device is active.
    • Disabled, Enabled, Warm-Up Only, Gameplay Only (Default: Enabled)
  • Added Receivers to Disable and Enable the device.
• Added new options to the Explosive Device – the following options apply only to Badge style Health Bars.
  • Team Visibility: Determines which teams can see the device’s Health Bar.
    • Any, 1-16, All Hostile, All Neutral, All Friendly (Default: Any)
  • Friendly Icon Text: Determines the text that is displayed on the Health Bar if the device is considered friendly.
  • Neutral Icon Text: Determines the text that is displayed on the Health Bar if the device is considered neutral.
  • Enemy Icon Text: Determines the text that is displayed on the Health Bar if the device is considered a hostile.
  • HUD Text Size: Determines the size of the Icon Text/Health Value displayed.
    • 1x, 1.5x, 2x (Default: 1x)
• Added new option to Capture Area Device.
  • Player Capture Item Filter: Determines whether a player requires the registered item in their inventory to be able to score points by standing in the Capture Area.
  • On, Off (Default: Off)
  • Only relevant when Player Capture is On.
• Added option to Enable/Disable the Ground Fog particle effect.
• Changed the default option for Grant on Respawn in the Team Settings Device to OFF so that by default it will not remove all items from a player’s inventory when they respawn.

 

Bug Fixes

 

• Applying settings to a Player Spawn device no longer prevents players from spawning on the plate properly.
• The Mounted Turret device won’t destroy the attached floor after a game, which would sometimes cause mass island destruction when the Turret was on a floor piece providing critical structural support.
• Objects will no longer disappear when returning to the Hub then going back into an island.
• Fixed issues with the Beacon Device:
  • Beacon now hides correctly during pre-game phase if set to Gameplay Only.
  • Beacon now hides correctly after game end.
  • Objective Devices set to Team 16 will now destroy other Objective Devices within their blast radius.
  • Fixed a number of issues associated with the Prop-O-Matic.
  • Prop orientation for the disguised player should now match the orientation seen by other players.
  • Players can no longer turn into floating islands using the Prop-O-Matic.
  • Switching weapons while an object is highlighted with the Prop-O-Matic no longer causes the object to remain highlighted after the switch.
  • The ‘Exit’ UI prompt will now be displayed while in prop mode.
  • Fixed an issue where incorrect button prompts would be shown when disguised in Fly Mode on mobile devices.
  • Correct health values will be displayed when transforming into certain props.
  • Disguised players will remain visible if their prop was destroyed by an Explosive Device.
  • Bush consumable no longer remains visible when a player transforms into a prop.
  • The ‘Lock in Place’ button prompt no longer appears as ‘Unbound’ on consoles and mobile.
  • Players can no longer transform into the Target Dummy Track or Vehicle Spawner devices with the Prop-O-Matic.
  • The Prop-O-Matic now has the correct number of rarity stars.
  • Fixed an issue on mobile devices where the Phone Tool UI would appear when a disguised player was hit by a Boogie Bomb.
  • Players can transform into large props from any viewpoint.
  • Uneven terrain no longer prevents players from changing into certain props.
  • Fixed an issue where players would jitter while standing near the Creative Hub Rift while disguised as a prop.

 

UI + SOCIAL

• Added descriptions to Ignore Team for Damage and Ignore Team for Proximity options on the Explosive Device to clarify how they affect team affiliation for HUD purposes.

 

Bug Fixes

 

• Spawns Left will display correctly on scoreboard.
• Fixed “Number of Hiders” Prop Hunt UI showing up outside of games.
• Fixed typo in ‘Allow Items to be Dropped’ setting in Game Settings tab.
• Fixed text error in Requires Line of Sight descriptions in Beacon Device and Explosive Device.

 

MOBILE

• The Edit Tool will correctly highlight Arctic Base parts.
• The Storm Controller Device is no longer missing a blueprint preview when players hover over it with the Phone.
• Instructions on how to “Change Destination” on Rift Waypoint will be displayed.