After nearly a decade behind a paywall, Fortnite: Save the World is officially free-to-play. Epic Games flipped the switch on 16 April 2026, opening up the co-op PvE mode that originally launched Fortnite back in 2017, and throwing in a free skin, crossover quests with Battle Royale, and, for the first time, native support on Nintendo Switch 2.

The wait is officially over, it’s time to take the world back.

Discover the game that started it all as you build, loot, and defend against monster hordes. Play solo or squad up, craft powerful gear, and level up your Heroes. Save the World is now Free-to-Play!… pic.twitter.com/9x7SJrCA7j

— Fortnite (@Fortnite) April 16, 2026

Save the World now sits alongside Battle Royale, Zero Build, and the rest of Fortnite’s main modes in the Discovery section of the lobby, available to every Fortnite player at no cost.

What Save The World Actually Is

For anyone who only knows Fortnite as the battle royale phenomenon, Save the World is the game’s original identity. It’s a co-op survival shooter where up to four players take on objective-based missions across destructible open-world maps, building forts, setting traps, and fighting off waves of monsters called Husks.

Players pick from four hero classes, Soldiers, Constructors, Ninjas, and Outlanders, each with their own playstyle. The loop mixes scavenging, crafting, base-building, and combat, with a progression system that rewards levelling up heroes and weapon schematics over time.

It’s a very different game from Battle Royale, closer in spirit to tower defence mashed with a looter-shooter, and it predates the 100-player format that made Fortnite a household name.

How To Claim The Free Skin And Crossover Rewards

To celebrate the free-to-play move, Epic has rolled out a set of crossover quests that link Save the World with Battle Royale, and a handful of rewards up for grabs in both modes.

On the Battle Royale side, players can find the Jess NPC on the island and start a quest chain. Completing three of her quests unlocks the ability to purchase the Super Shredder weapon from her, limited to one per match. Finish 12 of her quests and the Super Shredder schematic becomes available to use in Save the World itself.

The headline reward is the Jess skin, which unlocks after earning 350,000 XP in Save the World. It’s usable across all of Fortnite once unlocked, so even players who only dabble in the PvE mode can carry the cosmetic back into Battle Royale.

Existing and returning Save the World players aren’t left empty-handed either. Epic is handing out thank-you rewards including superchargers, vouchers, and gold to long-time players on the same day the mode went free.

Save The World Platform Availability

The free-to-play launch has also brought Save the World to Nintendo Switch 2, marking the first time the mode has been playable on a Nintendo platform. That’s a notable addition given Save the World’s long-standing absence from the Switch family of systems.

Not every platform made the cut, though. The mode remains unavailable on the original Nintendo Switch, mobile devices, and cloud streaming services. Epic hasn’t indicated any plans to bring Save the World to those platforms, and re-engineering the mode for them would be a significant undertaking.

Here’s the full platform breakdown at launch:

From $40 Flop To Free Mode

Save the World’s journey to free-to-play is a strange one. When Fortnite launched in July 2017, Save the World was the entire game, sold at a $40 price tag with an early access label. Sales were disappointing, and Epic pivoted fast, building a free battle royale mode on top of the same tech in a matter of weeks. That spin-off exploded, eclipsed its parent mode within months, and turned Fortnite into the cultural juggernaut and de facto metaverse it is today.

Save the World, meanwhile, stayed paid, and over the years faded into the background. It kept a committed player base, particularly among those who used it to grind battle pass XP, but it rarely made headlines and received limited content updates compared to Battle Royale’s relentless release cadence.

Dropping the paywall nine years later effectively reframes the mode as a side offering bundled into the free Fortnite ecosystem, rather than a standalone product that has to justify its price tag.

The Bigger Question: What Happens Next

The move opens Save the World up to the biggest audience it’s ever had, but the future of the mode is less clear. Epic conducted major layoffs in March, and maintaining Save the World, let alone expanding it with new story missions, maps, or major features, is resource-intensive work on an ageing codebase.

Whether Epic invests in new content will likely hinge on how many of Fortnite’s hundreds of millions of players actually stick with Save the World now that there’s no cost barrier. A sustained wave of new players could justify fresh development. A quick spike followed by drop-off probably won’t.

For now, the door is open. Anyone with Fortnite installed can boot up Save the World, pick a hero class, and find out whether the mode that started it all still has a place in 2026.

The post Fortnite Save the World Is Now Free With a Free Skin to Boot After Nine Years appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Pokémon Champions has officially launched on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 as a free-to-start download, giving players a dedicated competitive battling platform built around the same ruleset used in official Pokémon Video Game Championship events. Unlike traditional Pokémon RPGs, this one skips the story campaign entirely and drops you straight into team building, ranked battles, and seasonal progression.

A mobile version is also confirmed for a later date, and cross-platform play between Switch and mobile will be supported when it arrives. For now, the game is available exclusively through the Nintendo eShop.

What Pokémon Champions Actually Is

Pokémon Champions is not a mainline RPG. There is no overworld to explore, no gym leaders to challenge through a story, and no wild Pokémon to catch in tall grass. Instead, the game is entirely focused on competitive multiplayer battling, using the same Single Battle and Double Battle formats that feature in official Pokémon VGC tournaments.

The battle system uses familiar mechanics from previous Pokémon titles, including types, Abilities, moves, and stat tuning. Mega Evolution plays a significant role too, with transformations like Mega Dragonite, Mega Meganium, Mega Emboar, and Mega Feraligatr all available. Some of these Mega Evolutions carry brand new Abilities that were not present in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

New Mega Evolutions And Abilities

Several Mega-Evolved Pokémon debut with exclusive Abilities in Pokémon Champions. Mega Meganium gets Mega Sol, which allows it to use moves as though the weather were harsh sunlight, regardless of the actual battle conditions. Mega Emboar has Mold Breaker, letting its moves bypass the target’s Ability entirely. Mega Feraligatr introduces Dragonize, which converts Normal-type moves into Dragon-type moves and boosts their power by 20%.

Players who befriended Chesnaught, Delphox, Greninja, and Eternal Flower Floette during Pokémon Legends: Z-A can bring those Pokémon into Champions via Pokémon HOME to claim their respective Mega Stones (Chesnaughtite, Delphoxite, Greninjite, and Floettite) from the in-game mailbox.

Ranked Battles, Casual Modes, And Seasonal Battle Pass

Online ranked play is live from day one. Trainers compete against players worldwide and earn Season Points based on match performance. Casual Battles offer a lower-pressure alternative for testing new teams, while Private Battles let you challenge friends directly.

Season Points feed into a seasonal Battle Pass system. Both wins and losses contribute toward progression depending on how you perform, so you are not punished for taking on tough opponents. Cosmetic rewards, avatar customisation items, and progression bonuses unlock as you advance through each season’s pass. A Premium Battle Pass is also available, unlocking exclusive seasonal outfits and additional rewards. Certain Mega Stones can be earned through the Battle Pass or purchased with Victory Points in the shop.

Read More: Pokemon Champions Mobile Release Date

Read More: Pokemon Showdown Vs Pokemon Champions, Will They Coexist After Release?

Read More: Pokémon Champions Accessibility Explained As Dev Targets New Competitive Players

How Team Building Works

Instead of catching Pokémon through exploration, Champions uses a recruitment system. You can trial a selection of Pokémon once per day before deciding whether to permanently recruit them using Victory Points. Those same points also let you adjust stats, modify Abilities, and change movesets for your permanent team members, removing the traditional grinding loop entirely.

Pokémon HOME compatibility expands your options further. Supported Pokémon from titles like Pokémon GO and Pokémon Legends: Z-A can be brought into Champions as visiting partners. Visiting Pokémon retain their training adjustments if returned through HOME in the same form. However, Pokémon obtained directly inside Champions cannot be sent back to HOME.

Pricing For The Starter Pack And Membership

While the base game is free to start, optional paid content is available for players who want more flexibility. The Starter Pack costs $6.99 and includes additional Pokémon box space along with faster training tools to help with early team experimentation.

Early Download Bonus And Launch Tournament

Players who log in before 31 August 2026 can claim a free Dragonite from the in-game mailbox. A Dragoninite stone, which allows Dragonite to Mega Evolve into Mega Dragonite, is available through the first season’s Battle Pass. The stone may also appear in the shop or other areas of the game at a later date.

A launch tournament called the Warm-up Challenge is already running. It pits trainers against each other worldwide, with rewards based on performance. Entry remains open until 13 April at 01:59 UTC. Finishing three or more matches with at least one win or loss earns you a Gardevoir and 100 Quick Coupons after final rankings are posted.

Nintendo Switch 2 Visual Upgrade

Pokémon Champions supports both Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 as a single download. Switch 2 owners can grab a free visual enhancement update that improves the game’s graphical presentation. The game runs in TV mode, tabletop mode, and handheld mode across both systems.

Competitive Scene Starts At Indianapolis

The first official VGC event to feature Pokémon Champions will be the 2026 Indianapolis Regional Championships, running from 29 May to 31 May. That tournament serves as a preview ahead of the 2026 North America International Championships, scheduled for 12 June through 14 June. With Champions now being the game used for official championship events going forward, the competitive ladder is essentially live practice for anyone with tournament ambitions.

The post Pokemon Champions Is Out Now as a Free-to-Start Battle Game on Switch and Switch 2 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Pokémon Champions launches on Nintendo Switch this Wednesday, April 8, but if you were planning to hold out for the mobile version, you might not have to wait long. A listing spotted on the Korean Pokémon website has pointed to a June 2026 release window for the iOS and Android versions of the arena-focused battler.

According to the Pokémon Korea website, Pokémon Champions for mobile launches in June. pic.twitter.com/K0O2KctupL

— Centro LEAKS (@CentroLeaks) April 7, 2026

Korean Website Briefly Listed A June Launch

The leak came from the official Korean Pokémon Champions website, which advertised the game for mobile platforms with a June 2026 window before the listing was noticed and circulated online. No exact date was given, but a June release would place the mobile launch roughly two months after the Switch version hits shelves.

The Pokémon Company has not officially confirmed the June window, and the listing appears to have been a premature reveal rather than a planned announcement. Still, given that it appeared on an official regional site rather than a third-party source, it carries more weight than a typical rumour.

What Is Pokémon Champions?

Pokémon Champions is a new title developed by The Pokémon Works in partnership with The Pokémon Company. Unlike mainline entries, the game focuses exclusively on Pokémon battles within an arena setting, stripping away the exploration and story-driven structure of traditional games in favour of pure competitive battling.

The game is free-to-play, which aligns with the mobile release making strategic sense. A free arena battler is a natural fit for phones and tablets, and launching on mobile shortly after the Switch version could help the title build momentum quickly across both platforms.

Read More: Pokemon Showdown Vs Pokemon Champions, Will They Coexist After Release?

Read More: Pokémon Champions Accessibility Explained As Dev Targets New Competitive Players

A Busy Year For Pokémon

Pokémon Champions arrives in a year that has already seen Pokémon Pokopia dominate sales charts and player attention. Adding another title to the lineup signals The Pokémon Company’s confidence in expanding beyond its core RPG formula, with Champions representing a distinct competitive angle that complements rather than competes with Pokopia’s appeal.

For now, Switch players can jump in from April 8, while mobile players will likely need to wait until sometime in June for official confirmation and a concrete launch date.

The post Pokemon Champions Mobile Release Expected in June 2026 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Arknights: Endfield is almost here, and it is shaping up to be one of the most interesting action RPG launches on PlayStation 5 this year. Developed by Hypergryph and published globally by GRYPHLINE, the game arrives on January 22 as a free to play title, blending fast paced squad combat, deep exploration, and large scale base building into a single, interconnected experience.

Set in the expanding Arknights universe, Endfield pushes the franchise in a bold new direction, swapping tower defence roots for real time action while keeping its signature strategic depth intact.

Welcome To Talos-II

Endfield takes place on Talos-II, a planet shaped by conflict, catastrophe, and ambition. More than 150 years ago, pioneers fought through war and disaster to establish the first civilised zones. Beyond those borders lies a vast wilderness, dangerous, uncharted, and still haunted by the remnants of the past.

Players step into the role of the Endministrator, leading squads of Operators tasked with protecting and expanding the frontier of civilisation. Exploration and development are tightly linked, with Oripathy engines powering industrial facilities that rise across the wasteland as humanity pushes further outward.

Strategic Action Combat With Real-Time Decisions

At its core, Arknights: Endfield is an anime styled action RPG built around highly tactical, real time combat. Battles feature up to four Operators fighting at once, with players able to switch between characters on the fly.

Combat revolves around layered mechanics rather than button mashing. Basic attacks flow into heavier strikes that deal stagger damage and restore SP. Once an enemy’s stagger bar is filled, they become vulnerable, opening the door to devastating Executions that deal massive damage while refilling SP.

Each Operator brings unique skills and roles, with SP powering active abilities and ultimates that can turn the tide of battle. Under the right conditions, Operators can chain abilities together into combo skills, rewarding careful positioning, timing, and team composition. The result is combat that feels fast, expressive, and deliberately strategic.

Building The Backbone Of Civilization

Combat is only half of Endfield’s identity. One of the game’s defining systems is the Automated Industry Complex, or AIC, which ties directly into progression, exploration, and survival.

Players design and manage automated production lines that create equipment, medical supplies, and essential resources. These systems are not just passive bonuses, they actively influence how areas are explored and how challenges are approached.

To keep large scale building accessible, Endfield introduces a Blueprint system. Once unlocked, blueprints allow entire production lines to be built, copied, moved, or dismantled instantly. Players can also save layouts and share them with others, encouraging experimentation and optimisation.

As industrial zones grow, efficiency improves and trade routes begin to emerge, with different regions specialising in specific outputs. Where and how you build becomes just as important as what you produce.

A Story That Is Only Just Beginning

The narrative of Talos-II continues well beyond the opening hours. Events in Valley IV hint at a growing threat along the edges of civilisation, with signs that the Corrosion is beginning to stir.

Players are drawn to Qingbo Stockade near Wuling after contact is lost with Supreme Chief Tangtang, a key figure already known to the Endministrator. Reports of Bonekrushers appearing nearby suggest the situation is far from random.

As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that Wuling itself may not escape the coming Blight Tide. New regions, allies, and storylines gradually open up, with player choices shaping what lies ahead. Tangtang plays a central role in this unfolding chapter, and her journey alongside the Endministrator is only just getting started.

Designed With PS5 In Mind

On PlayStation 5, Arknights: Endfield takes full advantage of the hardware. The game supports the DualSense wireless controller, including haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, light bar effects, and built in speaker features. 3D audio support helps bring Talos-II’s environments to life, while Activities integration allows players to jump back into key story moments quickly.

The PS5 version also benefits from modern visual technology, including high frame rate support, detailed environmental effects, and smooth controller integration.

Importantly, while Endfield is always online, it does not require PlayStation Plus to play. Players can also purchase a $9.99 preorder bundle from the PlayStation Store, which includes in game currency, permits, and upgrade materials to get started.

A Massive Launch Moment

Ahead of launch, Arknights: Endfield has already surpassed 35 million pre registrations worldwide. To mark the milestone, all community rewards and special gifts revealed during the developer livestream will be available to players from day one.

New trailers released this week showcased both cinematic storytelling and in depth gameplay, including the official release trailer featuring the original anthem “We Are Empire” by STARSET, and the ‘New Horizons’ gameplay trailer highlighting Talos-II’s industrial landscapes and unfolding mysteries.

Begin Your Journey

Arknights: Endfield launches on January 22 for PS5, PC, and mobile platforms. With its blend of strategic action combat, large scale industrial systems, and an expanding sci fi narrative, it is shaping up to be one of the most distinctive action RPGs of early 2026.

If you are ready to step onto Talos-II and help define humanity’s next frontier, the journey is about to begin.

The post Arknights Endfield Brings Action RPG Combat And Industrial Ambition To PS5 On January 22 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.