Updated 12/2/2023. See updates below.
Fortnite’s Eminem ‘Big Bang’ Live-Event Marks the End of the OG Season
Fortnite’s highly anticipated Eminem ‘Big Bang’ live-event is set to conclude the OG season and usher in a “new beginning” for the popular battle royale game.
This live-event is a significant milestone, as it is the first one in quite some time and signifies the end of the most popular, albeit shortest, season in Fortnite’s history. The OG season attracted over 100 million players in November alone, who flocked to experience the original map and weapons. This level of engagement surpasses even Fortnite’s heyday years ago.
Chapter 5: A New Beginning with Exciting Crossovers
Leaks have revealed that Chapter 5, Season 1 Battle Pass collaborations will include iconic characters such as Peter Griffin from Family Guy and Snake from Metal Gear Solid. Additionally, new racing modes, music/rhythm modes, and a LEGO mode are expected to be introduced. Fans eagerly await the official unveiling of these exciting features.
Prior to the start of the next season, the Big Bang live-event will take place, featuring none other than rapper Eminem. Themed skins like Rap Boy, Slim Shady, and Marshall Never More Outfits have already been released in the shop in anticipation of the event.
Fortnite x Eminem
Big Bang Live-Event Start-Time
The Big Bang event is scheduled to kick off on Saturday, December 2nd at 2pm ET / 11am PT. Players are advised to log in to the event’s pre-lobby 30 minutes prior to avoid long queues that may hinder their participation. Parties of up to four people can join the event together.
If you are unable to play on your console or PC, Epic Games has provided alternative options. You can access the event through Xbox Cloud Gaming, Nvidia GeForce NOW, or Amazon Luna on your mobile device. Additionally, the event will be live-streamed by various content creators on platforms like Twitch and YouTube.
The duration of the event has not been specified, but it is expected to last approximately half an hour. Typically, these events feature multiple stages and may include special modes for players to enjoy after the show.
Server Downtime
Fortnite servers will undergo maintenance starting at 11:30pm ET / 8:30pm PT for the v28.00 update. Most Epic-made Fortnite modes will be temporarily unavailable from noon onwards, although player-made experiences will still be accessible until downtime begins. This means that apart from participating in the live-event or engaging with player content, there will be limited activities available.
Downtime typically lasts several hours, so it is likely that the new Chapter and Season will commence in the early hours of Sunday morning. While extended blackouts have occurred in the past, it is unlikely for such an event to take place this time.
Join us tomorrow during the Big Bang live-event. If I manage to enter a game, I will share footage (and possibly stream) on my YouTube channel as well. Stay tuned.
Update — The Big Bang Live-Event Is Over But It’s Coming Back
Players, including myself, encountered long queues when attempting to log in for the Big Bang event. Despite being unable to participate or record footage of the event due to the hour-long queue, I was able to watch it through various live streams.
Epic Games seemingly underestimated the event’s popularity, despite the 100 million player count in November and the immense hype surrounding it.
The event itself resembled the Chapter 1 rocket launch, with a rocket taking off, creating a rift, and returning to Loot Lake where numerous smaller rockets bombarded a force field. A spectacular implosion of stars and colors followed as everything on the map was gradually pulled into the nexus, culminating in another black hole. The event even featured the iconic music from the downtime black hole screen.
Fortunately, this time there was no extended downtime immediately after. Instead, players were treated to a psychedelic burst of color that transported them into space, where teasers for upcoming features like Fall Guys were showcased. Shortly after, everyone transformed into LEGO figures, unveiling the new LEGO x Fortnite mode. Players explored a LEGO map filled with dragons attacking castles and other fantastical sights.
The event showcased all three new modes coming to Fortnite. After the LEGO segment, players found themselves racing around the map’s massive race track in cars, introducing the second new mode. The third mode is a rhythm and music game reminiscent of Guitar Hero, which was demonstrated during the event’s third act featuring two of Eminem’s songs. Players had the opportunity to play along with the first song in a Guitar Hero-like fashion, while in the second song, Marshal Mathers grew to enormous proportions and demolished buildings like Godzilla.
Following this, players were once again propelled into space, where beams of light connected various Fortnite locations and items, such as the Durrr Burger and Battle Pass.
Edit: The three new modes are self-contained games within Fortnite. These include:
- LEGO Fortnite — A survival/crafting LEGO adventure.
- Rocket Racing — A racing game developed by Rocket League studio Psynonix.
- Fortnite Festival — A music game developed by Rock Band studio Harmonix where you can play in bands solo or with friends. The Weeknd will kick off the festival on December 9th.
You can watch the full event without commentary here.
You can check out the new Chapter 5, Season 1 trailer right here.
When Can You Replay (Or Re-Watch) The Event?
Epic Games has announced that they will be adding two more showings of The Big Bang after the 2pm ET show, but the exact times have not been disclosed yet. I will update this post as soon as the information becomes available. Stay tuned.
Edit: I have just received confirmation from Epic Games. The next two time-slots for the Big Bang event are:
- 5pm ET / 2pm PT
- 11pm ET / 8pm PT
Hopefully, the queues will be shorter during these additional showings!
What are your thoughts on the event? Let me know on Twitter or Facebook.
Author’s Quote: “The Big Bang live-event marks an exciting turning point for Fortnite, with new modes and crossovers that will surely captivate players. Get ready for an epic adventure in Chapter 5!”
Author’s Conclusion: “The Big Bang live-event has left players in awe with its stunning visuals and thrilling surprises. The introduction of LEGO Fortnite, Rocket Racing, and Fortnite Festival promises an exciting future for the game. Stay tuned for more updates and enjoy the new Chapter 5, Season 1!”
George Barham, an accomplished journalist and avid gambling enthusiast, serves as the esteemed Editor-in-Chief at fly-to-australia.com, Australia’s leading source for comprehensive gambling news and insights. With an unwavering passion for both the written word and the ever-evolving world of betting and gaming, George brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the helm of our editorial team.
