• Modojo @ Shacknews

New Submachine Gun Lands in Fortnite, Tactical SMG Retired

Fortnite has a brand new SMG, and the old tactical submachine gun has been consigned to the history books.

Kevin Tucker

July 17, 2018 12:00 PM

2

Epic Games' mega-popular battle royale Fortnite is known for getting frequent updates, and lo and behold, it just got another one. Players dropping into the updated 5.0 version of the game will not notice an all-new gun: the submachine gun, which stands in as a replacement for the old tactical SMG, which has now been retired.

The New Submachine Gun in Fortnite

"Make enemies think twice before they push you. Run and gun with the new Submachine Gun, ideal for those intense close range battles," a post made over on the Epic Games website states. The new SMG is described in-game as having "a fast rate of fire and improved mobility," and players will note that it does 19-21 base damage and offers a 30-round magazine.

Of course, now that there's a new SMG in town, the old tactical SMG has been dropped into the nether, and players will likely never see it again. It was certainly a strong weapon for close encounters, plus its clip offered five more shots over the new smg. However, in a game like Fortnite, balance is key, and the developers have done what they did in service of the greater good — though some players will doubtless still cry foul, as the new gun is kind of just like the old gun, but with lowered stats in a new package.

Worlds collide in Season 5! A viking ship, desert outpost, and ancient statues have appeared all over the island, changing the world of Fortnite. Hop in an ATK with your squad and uncover all new mysteries and locations.

New Season, New Battle Pass: https://t.co/zxorPaoiJb pic.twitter.com/uU8gCJ4OGx

— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) July 12, 2018

Along with the new SMG, Epic Games has also begun referring to the drum gun as the Typewriter Assault Rifle, a play on the old nickname for the Thompson submachine gun, and players will now be able to find it in the Save the World Gameplay mode.

The latest season of Fortnite has a lot more than a new submachine gun — Epic Games is playing around with the idea of adding skins for the golf cart, new dancing emotes have been added to the game, and we've got some exclusive footage of new Season 5 Battle Pass gameplay. Beyond that, stay up-to-date with the absolute latest Fortnite news by keeping it tuned to Shacknews' Fortnite home page.

Kevin Tucker

Guides Editor

Kevin Tucker is a core component of Shacknews' powerful guide development team. For questions, concerns, tips, or to share constructive criticism, he can be reached on Twitter @dukeofgnar or through e-mail at kevin.tucker@shacknews.com.