Fortnite Backtracks: Epic Already Removing This Controversial Feature
Fortnite Chapter 7 kicked off with a massive shock: the destruction of the iconic Battle Bus. For the first week, players have been forced to “surf” onto the island to collect parts for repairs. However, it seems this controversial experiment is ending much sooner than anyone expected.
The Battle Bus Returns Sooner Than Expected
When Epic Games destroyed the Battle Bus to start Chapter 7, most of us assumed the new “surfing” mechanic would stick around for at least a few weeks. Usually, major seasonal changes like this are here to stay for a while.
However, the developers are reverting to “old faithful” less than a week into the new chapter.
Since late November, players have been tasked with collecting parts to rebuild the vehicle. If you look at the in-game progress, things have moved incredibly fast.
According to reliable leakers with a solid track record, the Battle Bus is scheduled to return fully on Thursday, Dec. 4.
While Epic Games hasn’t officially confirmed this date on their blog, the visual state of the bus in-game makes these claims highly credible. It looks nearly complete.
The #Fortnite Battle Bus repairs are underway, and Stage 2 is now live at Ripped Tides!
The bus is starting to be put back together, but is still missing wheels and other parts! Stage 1 (left): Nov 29th Stage 2 (right): Dec 1st pic.twitter.com/ZXgj8vuOng — FNAssist (@FN_Assist) December 1, 2025
Why Surfing Was a “Mixed Bag”
To be honest, the surfing mechanic has been divisive. While some players enjoyed the fresh change of pace, a large portion of the community absolutely hated it.
The main issue was map control. The traditional Battle Bus takes a random route, allowing squads to distribute themselves evenly across the island. You can pick your drop and strategize.
Surfing, on the other hand, tended to concentrate everyone in specific spawn areas.
This forced players to vie for the same limited resources immediately. It turned the early game into a sweaty, exasperating mess rather than a tactical deployment.
Chapter 7 Is Still a Massive Shake-Up
Ideally, the return of the Battle Bus comes at the perfect time. The complaints were getting loud, and Epic seems to have listened—or planned this short duration all along.
Even without surfing, Chapter 7 remains a huge departure from the norm.
The developers have introduced several game-changing mechanics that are actually sticking around. The flow of the match is completely different now that you have more agency when you go down.
Here are the key features redefining the current meta:
- Rolling while down: You can now speedily roll away to cover instead of crawling.
- Driving the Reboot Van: You aren’t a sitting duck anymore; you can drive the van while rebooting teammates.
- Self-Revive: A mechanic players have wanted for years is finally here.
- Field Bosses: You can transform into bosses with massive health bars, though it reveals your location to the lobby.
Surfing changed the flow, but perhaps too drastically. Returning to the air drop mechanic we all know ensures that the core loop of the Battle Royale feels fair again.
It’s surprising to see Epic move this quickly, but for many of us, Thursday can’t come soon enough.
In Conclusion
The experiment was bold, but the Battle Bus is the heart of Fortnite. Its return should stabilize the chaotic early game and let us focus on the other great additions to Chapter 7.
What do you think about the surfing mechanic? Will you miss it, or are you glad to see the Bus back? Tell us in the comments!
A video game enthusiast ever since I first got my hands on a Game Boy. Over the years, I've played many different games across various genres, discovering hidden gems and niche titles along the way. I'm also passionate about technology, always up-to-date with the latest news and insight in the PC and Console market. Ready to share and bring you the latest news !
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