Fortnite Chapter Seven: Pacific Break is an island without a Battle Bus

Fortnite's next season is a loving tribute to Hollywood with an island that will require a new mode of transport.

After spending some time with the residents of Springfield, Fortnite is going Hollywood. What that means is that Epic Games is about to take some inspiration from Tinseltown and bring players a Hollywood-themed season of its battle royale juggernaut. Fortnite Chapter Seven: Pacific Break is set to welcome characters from various blockbuster movies, but it's also set to introduce arguably its biggest change to date: The Battle Bus is no more.

During Saturday's Fortnite Zero Hour event, players may have noticed that the Battle Bus was destroyed. If that's the case, how do players reach the all-new Hollywood-themed Fortnite island known as the Golden Coast? The answer to that is the only way Californians know how and that's by surfing. During an early hands-on session with the next Fortnite chapter, the round began by surfing the ocean waves. Accompanied by the sounds of The Beach Boys' classic hit, Surfin' U.S.A., players will hang ten and let the waves carry them to the island shores. Upon reaching land, they're then launched skyward, where they can position themselves anywhere on the island.

There wasn't much time for exploration before the storm started shrinking the playing field, but I was able to check out some of the Golden Coast POIs. Wonkeeland is where I spent the most time, as it featured a theme park, hotels, and arcades across a series of buildings. Upon entering one of the buildings, I heard a familiar voice coming from upstairs. It was The Bride from Kill Bill, who offered some brief exposition about her story and offered a few helpful items. Other POIs include Ripped Tides, Classified Canyon, Battlewood Boulevard, and Innoloop Labs. There appears to be more to Innoloop Labs with Epic noting that it's a location worth watching throughout the season.

Speaking of items, there are a few new mechanics worth checking out during this next Fortnite season. Players can check out a new self-revive device that can help them get back into the fight, as well as a reboot van that can be found somewhere on the map. While I saw one of those from a distance, I didn't get close enough to it to see its function in person. I also didn't have a chance to use the new DBNO (down but not out) additions, because... well... I wound up winning. Who knew that aiming a sniper rifle at the Sandy Strip beach area would be the key to victory for this particular session?

The Bride will be available as part of this season's Battle Pass, part of Epic's greater push to introduce the world of Kill Bill into Fortnite. Players can expect to see more characters pulled from popular blockbusters of the late 20th century. Marty McFly from Back to the Future is one example and he'll be available in the next Battle Pass. As always, Fortnite has fresh collaborations lined up for the future. Expect Epic to reveal them later.

Likewise, Epic has some ideas lined up for the season ahead. The wingsuit will allow for a new way to traverse the island, offering a fresh aerial view and a way to cover ground quickly. Boss characters may pop up occasionally and players will have a chance to eliminate them. By doing so, they will become them. Plus, there's unspecified loot and weaponry set to debut in the weeks ahead.

Those who watched Fortnite Zero Hour won't have to wait much longer for the action to begin. Fortnite Chapter Seven: Pacific Break is set to kick off today.

This preview is based on an early Fortnite build featuring the Chapter Seven: Pacific Break content played at the Fortnite Chapter Seven premiere event in Los Angeles, CA. The final product is subject to change.