Fortnite’s Upcoming “Thin Client” Feature Could Introduce Modular Gaming for Live Service Titles

Over the years since its initial release, Fortnite has transformed into a metaverse of sorts, changing the very landscape of the industry with continuous updates, new modes, and events. But with these constant additions, the game’s file size has ballooned tremendously, straining storage across platforms and making it challenging for players to manage their devices.

Fortunately for all of us, Epic has been working on a neat solution: a “thin client” feature for the game. This feature improves quality of life by allowing players to selectively download only the Fortnite game modes they want, offering flexibility and helping free up storage space.

The Thin Client Feature Will Change Fortnite as We Know It

So, yes – do you wish to simply experience the core battle royale experience and remove all the flab from the game? Or perhaps, are you a fan of Save the World but could really do without Rocket Racing or Fortnite Festival? Soon, you’ll have the option to do just that with the thin client.

Here’s what the option to do so would most likely look like, as demonstrated by the data-miner @unrealhybrid on X:

UPCOMING “LIBRARY” STORAGE FEATURE! pic.twitter.com/WEQHKPmDaz

— Hybrid (@unrealhybrid) November 5, 2024

In all honesty, it’s a clever solution for a game as varied and ever-growing as Fortnite, especially for smaller platforms like the Nintendo Switch, where storage space is rather tricky to manage.

That being said, if the concept sounds familiar to some, it’s because Call of Duty also uses a modular download setup, letting players install or remove modes based on their preferences.

But when you think about it, the feature is much more advantageous for Fortnite. This update could free up space for new content, allowing the game to evolve without taking over your storage.

More importantly, it would provide Epic with an even clearer indication of where to focus its developmental efforts going forward and continue to stay ahead of the competition.

For all we know, game modes like Rocket Racing will most likely get the boot as soon as the feature rolls out. Indeed, for those who rarely dip into these modes, the thin client feature means they can focus on the parts they love, keeping the download size manageable.

Unfortunately, Fortnite’s Thin Client Isn’t Rolling Out Anytime Soon

While this modular setup sounds ideal, there’s one major bummer: Epic has recently announced that the thin client update, once expected sooner, won’t arrive until mid-2025.

That means players will have to wait until at least July to see these storage benefits. For mobile and Switch players, who often have the most challenging time managing the game’s hefty file size, this delay may feel like a letdown.

Now, we can put all our tinfoil hats on for the moment and speculate that Epic wants to roll out more game modes for the title during this period to truly make the feature feel helpful, but it’s all up in the air at the moment.

However, there is a small silver lining. Fortnite OG 2’s upcoming update this November will deliver some file size reductions, which should ease things up a bit. It’s a small step but not quite the modular solution many were hoping for.

For now, though, Epic seems to be taking its time to get the thin client right, ensuring it works seamlessly on all platforms—a smart move for a game as widely played as Fortnite. Hopefully, it arrives a little sooner than expected, as God knows this game is well and truly starting to need it now.

But with all that said, what do you think of Fortnite’s planned thin client? Would you trim down your download size and focus on only a few favorite modes, or would you still be in it for the whole experience? Let us know in the comments below!