Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 8 update patch notes: Cubes, Sideways chests & weapons, Punchcards

Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 8 has arrived, and the Cube is back. Almost three years on from its initial appearance in Fortnite, everyone on the Island is fighting for survival. Here’s all the details you need, including the patch 18.00 notes and more.

Fortnite’s storyline is ramping up in Chapter 2. While Season 7 brought along the “Invasion”, seeing the island transformed with an alien takeover, the real bosses are back: Kevin the Cube has arrived, and this time, he’s brought his army.

The “Cubed” Fortnite update for Chapter 2 Season 8 kicked off with the Operation Sky Fire in-game event, and will continue on for the next couple of months. Here’s what you need to know about the September 13 update.

Fortnite Season 8 story trailer

Cubes are back ⁠— but in what capacity?

Kevin the Cube has obviously made his arrival back into Fortnite with the “Cubed” update, it only makes sense. However, there is a legion of the mysterious purple bricks dotting the island in the story trailer, leading to plenty of hype about how the map has changed.

• Read More: Every single Fortnite collab & crossover in battle royale’s history

The Cube has been increasingly involved in Fortnite’s lore, and with the Operation Sky Fire in-game event ending with Cubes raining down upon the Island.

Now, those smaller cubes act as rifts to “The Sideways”, where players can fight new monsters to farm better loot.

Sideways Chests & Weapons added in Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 8

Breaking down those Sideways, at least three new weapons have been added, which players can find when they take the Cube rifts.

The Sideways Rifle, Minigun, and Lightblade give players three options — either get up close and swing (with hopefully not as much force as the lightsabers), or take a ranged fight with the Rifle and Minigun.

The exact stats of the Sideways weapons are unknown, but you’ll be able to find them in chests after jumping between dimensions and fighting whatever lurks on the other side.

Map changes in Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 8: Sludgy Swamp, more

The new Fortnite map is looking rather grim in Chapter 2 Season 8. While the layout is the same, with all the POIs staying in place, Slurpy Swamp has been renamed to Sludgy Swamp. Corny Complex is also now called Corny Crops.

There are also spots of red dotted around the map, where the Cubes might have corrupted the Fortnite landscape.

The exact changes will be hard to tell until players start booting into the map, but expect a few hot drops around the new “Red” zones marked out on the map. Plus, as the fight against the Cubes continues, the map could evolve across Season 8.

Punchcards have returned to Fortnite

Punchcards are returning in Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 8, making your battle pass progress a lot easier to complete.

The punchcards give players a chance to complete numerous themed objectives, all with plenty of XP on the line for their troubles. Exact values and missions haven’t been confirmed yet, but it should make the grind that bit easier.

Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 8 battle pass include Carnage crossover

Speaking of the battle pass, it looks to be jampacked full of both original and crossover content. Carnage, the Marvel supervillain, will be available to players who grind to Tier 100 at the very end.

More to come…