Fortnite’s latest patch adds a Borderlands-themed area and the new Shield Bubble item

The world of Borderlands has come to Fortnite. The latest patch adds a little section of Pandora, the planet from Borderlands, to the Fortnite map. The patch also adds a new item called the Shield Bubble, and makes a major change to the way most players build.

The area of the Fortnite map southwest of Paradise Palms is now Pandora-themed. This area replaces Fortnite’s traditional chests with Borderlands chests, letting players automatically generate shields. It even changes the game’s art style to match Borderlands’ cel-shading.

Patch v10.20 also adds a new item to the game called the Shield Bubble. The Shield Bubble is a Rare item that, when used, creates a shield that blocks all incoming projectiles and explosives from going into or out of the shield (but it won’t stop players from walking through). The shield lasts for 30 seconds, or until someone destroys the shield’s emitter.

Finally, the patch also makes a small, but meaningful change to the way Turbo-Building works. The change increases the time between placing builds from 0.05 seconds, to 0.15 seconds. While this may not sound like much, it will be a massive change to anyone used to building extremely quickly, slowing the late game build wars dramatically.

For a full look at the changes coming to Fortnite in patch v10.20 you can see the patch notes below.

Fortnite patch v10.20 notes

Weapons and Items

Shield Bubble

• Rare item.
• Found from Floor Loot, Chests, Supply Drops, and Vending Machines.
• Lasts for 30 seconds.
• Creates a large bubble that blocks projectiles and explosives. However, players can still run through it.

Projectiles and explosives can be fired from inside the bubble but cannot go outside of it.

The bubble’s emitter has 400 HP. Destroying it deactivates the bubble.

B.R.U.T.E.

• The B.R.U.T.E.’s map icon will remain visible to all players after players board one. The icon will follow the vehicle as it moves.
• This is to increase awareness of a B.R.U.T.E.’s presence and location to all players in the match.
• B.R.U.T.E. changes implemented last week.

Junk Rift

• The Junk Rift has been re-enabled in all modes.

Vaulted

• Storm Flip
• Drum Gun
• Storm Scout Sniper Rifle

Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue in which the Junk Rift was not destroying B.R.U.T.E.s on impact.
• Weapons and items received from Vending Machines no longer differ from the weapons and items displayed upon receiving them.
• Fixed an issue in which Chug Splashes were able to be deployed quicker than intended.
• The Combat Shotgun no longer becomes more inaccurate for a short period of time after players swap to it from a weapon best used while aiming down sights (such as Sniper Rifles).
• Shockwaves now properly affect members of the Horde.
• Fixed an issue in which Small Shield Potions would not fill players’ Shield to 50 if it was at 49.
• Fixed an issue in which Stink Bombs would do less damage to players using a B.R.U.T.E.
• Gunners in a B.R.U.T.E. who aren’t accompanied by a driver will no longer have an obstructed view while in the volcano vortex.
• Hoverboards can no longer be ridden by a B.R.U.T.E.
• The damage state of a B.R.U.T.E. now appears when players with a vehicle Wrap equipped enter a B.R.U.T.E. that was previously unoccupied.
• Reloading a B.R.U.T.E.’s shotgun no longer makes it unable to fire missiles.
• Fixed an issue involving the B.R.U.T.E.’s air slam dealing more damage to Horde spawners than intended.
• The self-destruct timer of a B.R.U.T.E. can no longer be paused.
• Switching seats in or exiting a B.R.U.T.E. while it is loading missiles no longer makes it unable to emote.
• Entering a B.R.U.T.E. no longer causes players to lose the ability to use weapons or items on exit.

Gameplay

Pandora

At the oasis near Paradise Palms, a Rift Beacon has created the Pandora Rift Zone.

• Part of the Fortnite X Mayhem collab.
• This Rift Zone highly resembles the planet Pandora. However, it’s more than just a model; even the rules of the planet apply!

While at the Rift Zone, players will begin to generate Shield after 4 seconds of not taking damage.

• Pandora will be available until September 10.

Tilted Town

• Added traversable paths that connect the town to the surrounding hills.

This is to improve the experience in late-game circles that take place at Tilted Town.

Returned the time between subsequent Turbo Build placements from 0.05 seconds to 0.15.

• This is intended to level the playing field regarding ping when it comes to turtling.
• The first placement of a structure using Turbo Build remains the same.

Moving Storm

• Safezones will no longer move while shrinking in the later phases of a match.
• Note: This change does not affect Arena and Tournament playlists.
• This change was implemented on August 23.

Bug Fixes

• Going inside the Tilted Town Rift Zone while using a B.R.U.T.E. no longer causes the screen filter and no-building effect to remain after leaving the Rift Zone.
• Getting knocked out of a B.R.U.T.E. no longer causes players to enter an unintended Down But Not Out state in which they’re able to walk/run and unable to be revived.
• Fixed an issue in which members of the Horde would not attack players in a B.R.U.T.E.
• Damaging a B.R.U.T.E. no longer counts towards the Storm Surge damage threshold.
• Players inside indestructible buildings can no longer be damaged by a Junk Rift.
• Destroying a Chest or ammo container by destroying the object it is placed on will now open it.

Art and Animation

Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue in which Catalyst’s left arm would clip through multiple backpacks in the lobby while idle.
• The Y0ND3R Outfit and EQ Wrap now animate correctly on PlayStation 4.
• Boarding a B.R.U.T.E. inside the Tilted Town Rift Zone and then exiting the Rift Zone while in the B.R.U.T.E. no longer causes the player’s Outfit to be unable to return to the equipped Outfit.

Audio

• Adjusted the shape of the Junk Rift’s audio attenuation from a sphere to a capsule.

This is to make Junk Rift objects more audible when spawned up high.

• Reduced the volume of the Minigun’s overheat audio.

Bug Fixes

• The Frag Grenade’s fuse sound no longer occurs as it is thrown.
• The Battle Bus’ audio no longer plays from the wrong location on Starter Island.
• Fixed an issue in which the spawn sound effects of Junk Rift objects would not play if the thrown projectile hit a player.

UI

Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue involving players being unable to see Challenges upon logging in for the first time during Season X.
• The input UI for the B.R.U.T.E.’s gunner mode no longer displays the wrong inputs for players using a controller.
• Fixed an issue in which the player icon wouldn’t update properly while players have their Locker Outfit set to Random.
• A rounding error no longer occurs in the Health and Shield meters after applying Bandages or Small Shields.
• Fixed an issue that caused the Social Panel to show an incorrect set of Team Members.

Replay

• Local replays now have the same HUD as that of server/broadcast replays.
• After a player is eliminated in a replay, the camera will now follow their teammates or the player who eliminated them.
• Reordered and slightly modified the replay HUD controls.

As part of this, the button used to access the player list has been removed. However, players can still access the player list using the map screen.

• On August 20, we disabled server streaming replays on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One to improve stability and address performance issues.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue in which some of the smaller Junk Rift objects would not be hidden in replay rewinds after hitting the ground.
• Thrown Junk Rift projectiles no longer duplicate in replays.
• Junk Rift objects hitting the ground in replays no longer causes assets to appear.
• Fixed an issue involving the Junk Rift’s audio effects not occurring in replays.

Mobile

• iOS will now optimize content during players’ first run of the game after patching. This will help reduce hitching and load times when waiting for the Battle Bus to leave.
• 60FPS support has been re-enabled for iPhone 8.
• Updated the images that appear on-screen during the patching process.

Bug Fixes

• Playlist tiles, “New” tiles, and Event page tiles will now display the correct images.
• Fixed collision issues between characters and some cosmetics.
• Fixed an audio issue when using the B.R.U.T.E on Android.
• Backing out of cinematics no longer causes a black screen.
• The font alignment has been corrected in the Challenges menu.
• Fixed an issue in which ammo belts would float while players were in a B.R.U.T.E.
• Fixed an issue in which Autofire was active against some vehicles.