Unreal Editor for Fortnite (2024)

Unreal Editor for Fortnite (aka UEFN) allows Fortnite Creators to use tools from the Unreal Engine to create more advanced experiences in Fortnite Creative. Its launch was the start of a major overhaul of the mode, spanning across several years, that is unofficially known as "Creative 2.0". On the same day as the engine's release, Creator Economy 2.0 (a better monetization system) and the Creator Portal were also released.

The editor is currently only available on PC, although creations made using it can be played on all platforms. Islands created in the base Creative client can be converted into Unreal Editor Projects; however these projects cannot be edited in the base Creative client.

UEFN is also currently in a public beta, and is subject to constant updates and improvements based on community feedback. The full release will likely take place before the end of 2025, as this is when seasons of Battle Royale will be made using the editor.

Features[]

List of Editor Features[]

UEFN currently has many exclusive capabilities, including:

• The ability to create custom content with Modeling and Material tools.
• The ability to import custom assets and materials; maps using these must be downloaded before you can play them.
• Niagara, which can be used to create VFX effects.
• Animation tools such as Control Rig and Sequencer.
• Verse, an advanced language used to design gameplay.
• A terrain editor, allowing creators to build Landscapes and environments.
• A better memory system with World Partition.
• The ability to use Fab to discover and import assets.
• Live Edit, allowing you to collaborate in real time with others.
• Integrated collaboration using Unreal Revision Control.
• The ability for creators to make their own custom UIs, using UEFN's widget system.

Verse[]

The Unreal Editor uses verse, an advanced and constantly-evolving programming language, to allow creators to design their games in a more advanced way. Unfortunately, there is no Visual Scripting available, unlike the Unreal Engine, which supports Visual Blueprint Scripting.

View Epic Games' documentation on Learning Verse to learn more on how to use this language.

The Content Browser[]

UEFN contains Content Browser for each project that displays all of the objects and data inside a project. In addition, there is a Content Library, known as "Fab" (which is powered by Sketchfab) that acts as an asset store, allowing high-quality assets to be easily ported into a project without using a third-party website or a 3D Modeling Software.

UEFN-exclusive Devices[]

Upcoming Features[]

The following features have been confirmed for release in the near future (full list):

• Scene Graph V1 (Q2 2024 - Live Experimental).
• Spatial Profiler (Q2 2024)
• Notes in Unreal Revision Control (Q2 2024)
• Personalized Discovery (Q2 2024).
• Fall Guys support (Q3 2024).
• UEFN available during downtime (Q3 2024).
• Orthographic Camera (Q3 2024).
• Custom Game Items (Q4 2024).
• Thin Client (Q4 2024).
• General Physics (Q4 2024).
• Text Chat (Q4 2024).
• Proximity Chat (Q4 2024).
• First Person Camera (Q4 2024).
• Follow-A-Creator (Q4 2024).

Release[]

When it was originally announced, the Unreal Editor was given a release timeframe of 2021. Later, during December 2021, this was delayed to December 2022. After the launch of Chapter 4, it was delayed again, this time to the end of January 2023. However, on January 23rd 2023, due to technical issues, Tim Sweeney officially announced that Epic was "targeting March" for a release date of UEFN ^[1]. On March 1st, 2023, Sweeney retweeted a tweet by @FNCreativeNews saying "Happy UEFN release month! 🥳", and, on March 16th 2023, the official @FNCreate account tweeted out an image of UEFN^[2] and @EpicGamesStore replied with "👀"^[3]. This was followed up with the announcement of the release date as March 22nd, 2023 with a link to wishlist UEFN^[4].

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

• UEFN's codename is Valkyrie.^[5]
• At the very start of Chapter 4: Season 2, players were able to load UEFN early by switching to performance mode on GeForce Now. However, it was very limited and creators lacked some permissions and features, such as the ability to save projects; it also appeared to be a slightly older version of the editor than the one released on March 22nd.
• On December 15th 2022, Epic Games held a yearly recap that was set to show live demo of Unreal Editor; creators around the world waited eagerly for the event, most watching the entire stream hoping for some UEFN stream, but due to technical difficulties, the demo was cancelled and the stream abruptly ended. Tim Sweeney expressed his uncertainty for a January launch by jokingly saying “sometime between January 31st and like January 90th.” Coincidentally, the actual release date lined up very closely with when January 90th would've been.
• Creators can remake and publish the Battle Royale Chapter 1 island Athena, as Epic Games gave an exception to intellectual property rules (Battle Royale islands are Epic’s intellectual property) on March 23rd. As with Creative Royale, remakes of Athena are not monetized. Publishing remakes of other maps is currently not allowed. ^[6]

References[]