Forget pickaxes and shotguns, Fortnite players wielded a different kind of power this weekend: the power of rock! Metallica brought their signature brand of heavy metal to the battle royale phenomenon in a groundbreaking in-game concert. Dubbed Metallica: Fuel. Fire. Fury, the virtual concert was a full-blown takeover of Fortnite’s Festival Season 4, proving that even in the virtual world, rock and roll can still unite the masses.
Show Dates
Crafted from the ground up using Unreal Editor for Fortnite by technology studio Magnopus, Metallica’s Fortnite concert took place on June 22 and 23, 2024. There were multiple showtimes throughout both days to accommodate players in different time zones:
- Saturday, June 22: 2 PM ET, 5 PM ET, 11 PM ET
- Sunday, June 23: 10 AM ET, 2 PM ET, 5 PM ET
Fans were able to enter the concert through the Fortnite Discover screen and experience the show with up to three friends. The concert was an exclusive, limited-time event and could not be replayed after the scheduled dates.
Setlist
The concert featured six of Metallica’s most popular songs, including Enter Sandman, Fuel, Master of Puppets Ride the Lightning, The Unforgiven, and Wherever I May Roam.
The concert represents Fortnite’s most significant foray into the music industry to date, solidifying its position as a leader in the emerging space of virtual concerts
Reactions
Reviews of Metallica’s Fortnite Concert were mixed. Critics and audiences alike found the concert unique and an innovative way to experience Metallica’s music, especially for younger audiences who might not be familiar with the band.
While the concert was a spectacle, complete with special effects and interactive elements, some players were disappointed that only snippets of each song were played, rather than full performances. There were also reports of lag and other technical issues during the concert, which may have impacted the experience for some players.
Despite the mixed reviews, the concert was expected to have shattered records with massive player turnout, cementing Metallica’s status as a top draw for virtual concerts in Fortnite.
Metallica-themed Fortnite Game Modes
Fortnite’s Metallica collaboration wasn’t just about the concert! From June 13 to August 16, 2024, the entire Fortnite Festival Season 4 offers a range of Metallica-themed experiences across different game modes, which are as follows:
Fortnite Festival: This existing game mode became a “Rock Band”-style experience for season 4. Players could unlock skins for all four Metallica members (James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Robert Trujillo) and perform a setlist of Metallica classics alongside other players. A new competitive mode called Battle Stage was also introduced within the Fortnite Festival. Here, 16 players competed in a rhythm-based battle, performing the same setlist with points awarded for accuracy and style. The Battle Stage will remain available even after the Metallica collaboration concludes, providing an ongoing competitive element to the Fortnite Festival experience.
Battle Royale: While not a complete overhaul, the Battle Royale mode offered some Metallica flair. Players could find Metallica-themed loot-like instruments as back blings and emotes inspired by the band’s music.
LEGO Fortnite: This creative mode has also gotten a Metallica touch. Players could find special building blocks themed around the band and potentially recreate iconic Metallica imagery or stages.
Rocket Racing: A new Rocket Racing track called Thrash Mountain was introduced, featuring a high-speed, Metallica-themed course. Players could unlock a special Backfire Car Body and other cosmetics inspired by the band to trick out their rocket for the race.
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