PUBG vs Fortnite: Top 10 Differences

Updated:

05 Aug 2023

After looking at the differences of Call of Duty Warzone vs PUBG, we also need to consider another major battle royale game: Fortnite.

Introduction

Fortnite and PUBG Battlegrounds have attracted millions of players from around the globe and have influenced the gaming industry massively. Even though both overly successful games share the same genre, major differences set the two games apart. This results in a diverse gaming experience for each battle royale game. Fortnite is more action-packed and stylistic in its visual appearance than PUBG, while PUBG relies heavily on tactical gameplay and strategic decision-making.

But let’s closely examine 10 of the most telling differences.

Top 10 Differences

10. Crossplay

Back in the day, you weren’t able to play with your buddies who use different platforms than yourself. Luckily, this has changed. With the introduction of crossplay, the confining boundaries have been removed. Now you are able to catch up with anyone, PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation.

However, when looking at the differences between controller and keyboard/mouse, it is commonly known that there is a competitive advantage using keyboard/mouse.

You are just more precise in fast movements with the crosshair, allowing flick shots for instance. To bridge this gap, game developers have introduced the aim assist for controllers.

As there generally is no aim assist in PUBG, you are not able to compete against PC players when playing on a console. This is a logical consequence based on the fact that PUBG is meant to be more of a realistic simulator than an arcade-style game.

So with Fortnite, there is full support across all platforms, as well as an aim-assist for controller players. You just need to sign up for an Epic Games account.

9. Vehicles

While the main focus of both games lies upon infantry-combat, vehicles are a great asset that enrich the variety of opportunities for tactical gameplay. Sometimes vehicles are inevitable, as the vast size of some maps forces players to make use of them in order to reach the safe zone.

Fortnite has a huge variety of different unusual modes of transportation, such as shopping carts, armed aerial vehicles, and mechs. But you also can ride boars, wolves, or sharks. It is much more diverse than PUBG and obviously more fun.

PUBG has fewer vehicles, which are limited to transportation only. There are no extra turrets or anything comparable, apart from a glider.

8. Weapons

The weapons in Fortnite are not as exotic as you might think, yet there are certain differences between both games’ arsenals.

While the division of overall weapon classes is pretty much the same, such as into pistols, shotguns, SMGs, machine guns, assault rifles, and sniper rifles, Fortnite further provides fully equipped weapons of each class, as there are no attachments in-game that allow you to modify weapons yourself.

In PUBG, you need to collect attachments in order to improve your weapon’s firing characteristics. If you don’t find a compensator, it’s harder to control the weapons with higher damage.

Fortnite also distinguishes weapons to their rarity, meaning that legendary weapons of the same weapon have higher stats.

7. Looting System

Fortnite uses a much quicker and more streamlined system of looting than PUBG. Players can run over items to collect them. Items are also clearly visible and distinguishable from another.

In PUBG, you oftentimes need to access your inventory to effectively pick up attachments you need, making yourself vulnerable in the process when exposed in an open environment. This led to the unwritten law of :”looting kills”.

6. Gunplay

Fortnite has more of an arcade-like gunplay, similar to that of Call of Duty Warzone. The weapon and bullet physics are also roughly equal. However, bullet drop only applies to sniper rifles in Fortnite. There is recoil, but not as difficult to handle as in PUBG.

All in all, it is more intuitive for newer and younger players to start playing Fortnite and reaching some level of success early on.

PUBG is more of a simulation and it takes a considerably much longer time to get used to the difficult game mechanics.

5. Graphics

Both games were initially published on the same Unreal 4 engine, but with two totally distinctive results.

Fortnite offers a colorful, cartoonish, and vibrant gaming environment, while PUBG features a grittier, sometimes murkier world, aiming for a more realistic aesthetic. This is also reflected in the level of detail, which is much more complex in PUBG than in Fortnite, with more realistic textures, lighting, and shadows.

Overall, Fortnite is more focused on a stylish art, which is much more appealing to a younger audience.

Due to the low level of detail, Fortnite’s gaming performance is much better than PUBG, enabling players to play the game on less powerfulPC’s.

However, with the start of Fortnite’s chapter 4, game developers introduced the Unreal 5 engine.

4. Comeback System

When looking at the comeback system, it becomes clear that Fortnite is the godfather of PUBGs recently introduced recall system, based on the blue chip in-game. For Fortnite, being able to recall fallen teammates has been a long standing tradition.

Back in April 2019, game developers introduced the reboot van to Fortnite, which can be used to initiate the comeback process. In order to activate it, players had to retrieve their teammates' reboot card.

PUBG introduced the recall system in 2023, better late than never, but it comes with a major downside. It is great to finally be able to bring back your teammates, especially in squads, but you need to collect the Bluechip from your teammates box. Here comes the tricky part: your opponents can also retrieve the Bluechip from your teammates’ box. And this is highly questionable.

Where is the point of introducing a comeback mechanic, when the other players can just collect the Bluechip and chuck it in the nearest bush? This is what happens right now in PUBG and players will get increasingly annoyed by it.

Fortnite never allowed that to happen, since you cannot pick up the reboot card.

3. Maps

Interestingly, Fortnite has featured one map since its version 1.0 release. With every major patch the overall theme of the island changed. Over the years, biomes were created to provide a diverse gaming experience for the players.

Epic Games also thought of all the creative minds with the introduction of the Fortnite Creative Mode. Here you can build your own map, the Epic Games dev Community is a good starting point.

PUBG currently features 8 different maps on a regular basis, since there is a weekly map rotation. The classic map is Erangel, which was available with the release of the game in March 2017. In December 2017, the second map Miramar was added.

All in all, PUBG developed 9 different unique maps, with another one in the making. There is currently no creative mode for building enthusiasts.

2. Gameplay

Somehow, the differences in gameplay are similar to those of Call of Duty Warzone vs PUBG. PUBG is generally slower in pace, and more focused on a tactical, strategic aspect. You have to be cautious, scope out the environment, and engage in long-range fights. Mistakes in any round send you on the fastest way back to the lobby. Overall, PUBG is more realistic and unforgiving.

Fortnite, on the other hand, is obviously more fast-paced and arcade-like. With the early introduction of the reboot van, players were tempted to engage in battles without the fear that the game might come to an abrupt end. Another reason for the domination of aggressive playstyles is the building mechanics, where you can quickly build walls to protect you from enemy’s fire.

1. Building Mechanics

The main difference between both battle royale games is the building mechanics. In PUBG, there are none. The only thing you can build is the folded shield, which you can see in the picture above. That’s about it.

This is a whole different story in Fortnite. First of all, you are able to destroy nearly any objects or structures in the environment with the player’s pickaxe or weapons. You are able to harvest those resources, in order to build structures yourself. Walls, floors, ramps, or roofs can be built. This adds another tactical layer to the fast paced gameplay.

It is very impressive when looking at major official Fortnite tournaments, to see the best player’s tremendous building skills towards the end of the game. Entire housing complexes rise from the ground, slowly evolving to match the circle’s path.