Fortnite gains a new mode today called Patchwork Parkour, an obstacle course game with a rhythm twist. The idea of an obstacle course — or “obby” game — first started on games like Roblox and Spatial. Developers Harmonix and Look North World partnered up to bring this style of game to Fortnite through the Unreal Editor for Fortnite, or UEFN.
Let the music be your guide as you jump, dash, and dance your way across a variety of hazards, with the camera angle switching from free-roam gameplay to side-scrolling action. Lights flash and flames erupt in time with the beat, but if you get into the music, you can use it as a gauge for when the next hazard might appear. Lava, laser beams, and compactors all pose different threats to the player, and it takes specific timing to avoid an unpleasant end.
It’s hard to mind too much, especially since the catchy beats will have you playing levels over and over just to hear the music.
Pathwork Parkour is more than just a game type, though. Players can create their own levels and soundtracks using the in-game tools and share them among friends. “Through its harmonious blend of rhythm, gameplay, and creative expression, Patchwork Parkour is designed not only to captivate players but to reimagine the ways music can be enjoyed together. We also hope to inspire creators to dive into the Patchwork toolset, explore its potential, and create their own music-driven experiences in Fortnite,” said Alex Seropian, CEO of Look North World.
Harmonix and Look North World detailed the tools available to players in a post on the Fortnite Creator Portal. It explains the tools available to players like the Note Sequencer, Fusion Patches, Modulators, and more, detailing how to use each tool and build a rhythm-focused level all your own.
Even if you’ve never built something like this before, the tools are easy to learn and the editor relatively forgiving. It can be complicated at first, but the developers designed this tool to be accessible to the majority of gamers.
You can try out Patchwork Parkour for yourself by entering the code 1425-4464-4801. Levels get harder as you play, with more frequent dangers and harder jumps that will call on all your platforming skill to complete.
Google Play is borrowing one of the Nintendo Switch’s most useful little tricks. A new Sidekick tool called Playbacks captures a short clip after something interesting has already happened, sparing players from running a screen recorder throughout an entire game.
Playbacks is part of Google Play Store v53.8 and keeps saved clips on the phone. Google first announced it earlier this month, but the new Play Store update marks its arrival for players. Anyone who has watched a perfect win vanish because the record button came too late already understands the appeal.
Imagine tapping a Zelda icon on your iPhone and jumping straight into Hyrule. A new open-source project called nxnative makes that possible by repackaging Switch games you’ve bought into apps for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with no emulator in the middle.
Why does this run so well on Apple devices?