Epic Games will make Fortnite's original Save the World mode free to play on April 16, ending its $9 paid model. The PvE co-op campaign, which launched in 2017, focuses on crafting and survival rather than the battle royale mode that became Fortnite's global phenomenon. Players can pre-register now for the free version.

Current owners won't lose access when the free version launches. In fact, Epic is rewarding existing players with V-bucks vouchers, gold bars, and end-game resources as a thank-you gesture. The company will stop selling the paid version tonight, March 11, at 8PM ET for anyone who still wants to purchase it before the switch.

A major addition is Switch 2 support, marking the first time Save the World will be available on Nintendo hardware. The mode remains unavailable on original Switch and mobile devices but works on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Epic promises pre-registration perks that scale based on sign-up numbers by April 16. Despite being overshadowed by battle royale, Save the World continues to offer V-bucks through Daily Quests, Mission Alerts, and Storm Shield Defense Missions.