When is the Fortnite Doomsday event? What was The Device event, what happened, and how did it change the map?

Season 3 began on Thursday 17 June
(Image: Epic Games)(Image: Epic Games)
(Image: Epic Games)

New seasons of Fortnite often bring with the big new content drops, and thematic changes to the popular Battle Royale game that helps to keep it fresh some three years on from its original release.

But have been left waiting much longer than anticipated to see what new loot Season 3 brings to the game.

Now, the latest update is finally here.

(Image: Epic Games)(Image: Epic Games)
(Image: Epic Games)
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Here's everything you need to know about why it was delayed:

When did Season 3 of Fortnite start?

New seasons of Fortnite often bring with the big new content drops, and thematic changes that helps to keep the game fresh some three years on from its original release.

But fans were left waiting much longer than anticipated to see what new loot Season 3 brought to the game.

(Image: Epic Games)(Image: Epic Games)
(Image: Epic Games)

The latest 'season' of the popular battle royale game Fortnite had been delayed until early June, much to the dismay of the game's rabid fanbase of followers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Season 2 of Fortnite's so-called 'Chapter 2' was expected to come to a close on 30 April, on which date Season 3 would also be ushered in.

However, developers Epic Games confirmed that season would be extended by a number of weeks.

The game had already been pushed back to 4 June to account for remote working in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic; it received a further delay following the mass protests that broke out around the world following the death of George Floyd.

“We’re acutely aware of the pain our friends, families, team members, players, and communities are experiencing,” Epic said in a blog post.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We believe in equality and justice, diversity and inclusion, and that these fundamentals are above politics. The team is eager to move Fortnite forward, but we need to balance the Season 3 launch with time for the team to focus on themselves, their families, and their communities.”

Season 3 eventually began on the later date of Thursday 17 June.

It's not the first time Fortnite has had to delay the reveal of one of its much-awaited new seasons.

Season 2 of the game was expected to go live just before Christmas, but was delayed until February, most likely to give Epic's staff some much deserved holiday time over the festive period.

What’s the Doomsday event?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ahead of the new season, there was a big in-game event; excitement began building when a countdown timer appeared in the game, set to hit zero on Monday 15 June.

During the event, Midas’ doomsday clock hit zero, and kicked off a chain of event that sunk the game’s map.

As the countdown ended, pillars lifted up from under the map’s existing stretches of water, as an explosion blew up The Agency building.

The ‘Doomsday’ device appeared on a pedestal, as players were lifted into the air and transported to an alternate dimension office, where a character could be heard talking about storms and “the loop.”

How did the map change?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

When players were eventually sent back to the map, it was completely sunken into the sea.

Immediately after the event, the game was in a sort of limbo between The Device and the start of Season 3; players hoping to jump into a match instead found themselves on an island surrounded by a wall of water, and were promptly be killed by AI-controlled Henchmen.

Related topics: