What you need to know
- Fortnite is a free Battle Royale mode game that's popular on many platforms.
- Epic Games announced a new game mode, Impostors, which embraces the style of games of deception.
- This game mode has been revealed to be increasingly similar to the popular deception game, Among Us.
One of the most popular Battle Royale games, Fortnite recently announced a new game mode called Impostors in a tweet.
The Bridge is under attack!
Will you ensure the safety and security of The Bridge... or follow Jones’ footsteps and sabotage the Imagined Order from within?
Play Fortnite Impostors now 🕵️♂️. Remember, Trust Nobody.https://t.co/XOY6xVMY8T pic.twitter.com/dBXHy8bWkwThe Bridge is under attack!
Will you ensure the safety and security of The Bridge... or follow Jones’ footsteps and sabotage the Imagined Order from within?
Play Fortnite Impostors now 🕵️♂️. Remember, Trust Nobody.https://t.co/XOY6xVMY8T pic.twitter.com/dBXHy8bWkw— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) August 17, 2021August 17, 2021
The mode is a classic game of deception, where players must work together to eliminate an unknown threat before they themselves are eliminated. The most popular game embodying this concept is Among Us, which took the internet by storm last year when quarantines and lockdowns were becoming more prevalent around the world in light of the pandemic. The game made its way out of obscurity on Steam and mobile, and even landed a spot on the Nintendo Switch eShop.
Fans of Among Us are not lost to the coincidence, though, and have taken to calling Fortnite Impostors a "rip-off" of Among Us. Further investigation by fans revealed that there are even similarities between the new Fortnite map and the classic map featured in Among Us — The Skeld.
Some people seem like can't see the similarity, so here it is. It's not "obvious", the room might have different points but you can't look at this and think it's totally different. pic.twitter.com/3IWbpmUf60Some people seem like can't see the similarity, so here it is. It's not "obvious", the room might have different points but you can't look at this and think it's totally different. pic.twitter.com/3IWbpmUf60— Stephen N. Parker (@PeterNStrange) August 17, 2021August 17, 2021
Could Epic Games get in trouble? Well, probably not. The co-founder of the Among Us development team, InnerSloth, stated in a tweet that they didn't patent any of the Among Us game mechanics — though they seemed unimpressed at the blatant copycatting.
We didn't patent the Among Us mechanics. I don't think that leads to a healthy game industry. Is it really that hard to put 10% more effort into putting your own spin on it though?We didn't patent the Among Us mechanics. I don't think that leads to a healthy game industry. Is it really that hard to put 10% more effort into putting your own spin on it though?— Puff (@PuffballsUnited) August 17, 2021August 17, 2021
Of course, patenting game mechanics would be pretty problematic, as it would prevent entire game genres like Metroidvanias or Rogue-likes from existing. Still, it leaves a sour taste in the mouths of many.
What do you think of this new development? Let us know in the comments!
Go bananas for a Victory Royale!
Nintendo Joy-Con are some of the most versatile and personal video game controllers out there. With thousands of combinations, play in handheld mode, in docked mode, or with a friend!
