Epic Games has started rolling out its long-awaited “Thin Client” feature on Fortnite, a moment of gaming innovation that may redefine how live-service game players engage with those experiences.
The Thin Client technology, under development for more than a year, will enable future players to download selectively only the Fortnite game modes they intend to play, significantly minimizing the game storage space from its present 60-100GB to around 16-20GB for the main client.
The system works similarly to platforms like Roblox, providing users with essential features, including the lobby, cosmetics store, and Battle Pass interface upon initial installation. Players can then choose which additional content to download separately, including Battle Royale, Zero Build, Creative/UEFN, LEGO Fortnite, Fortnite Festival, and Rocket Racing modes.
This module-based strategy aims to rectify one of gaming’s most intractable issues: oversized game files that hog valuable storage space. Fortnite presently takes up anywhere between 18GB and more than 100GB, depending on the platform and downloaded features, prompting numerous users to uninstall other games or applications to make room for updates.
Phased Global Rollout Begins
The Thin Client feature is starting its phased rollout worldwide today, first debuting on mobile platforms and then spreading to PC and consoles.
The rollout is a notable departure from the initial timeline of Epic Games, which first planned for October 2024 before being pushed back to mid-2025 amid technical hurdles. The firm has since opted for prioritizing the assurance of the system seamlessly operating on all platforms prior to full rollout.
The Thin Client technology would set a new precedent for live-service games, some of which have come to massive sizes over the years. Games such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare have become sizes greater than 200GB, providing storage management headaches for players.
Epic’s solution has specific advantages for console gamers, particularly Nintendo Switch users who commonly face storage constraints given the platform’s low internal memory. The tech also deals with download time and data consumption worries, which are specifically applicable to players who have slower internet speeds or data limits.
The Thin Client improves upon Epic’s past optimization work, such as a successful 2020 effort that had cut Fortnite’s PC file size from more than 90GB to less than 30GB by means of better compression methods. The new framework goes further in that it provides fine-grained control over installed content.
The technology offers capabilities like on-demand cosmetic downloads, keeping the base installation size low but allowing access to bought content. Optional visual stuff like high-definition texture packs is still a standalone download, allowing users to have full control over their storage space allocation.
The gaming public has reacted enthusiastically to the news, with many seeing it as a long-awaited fix for storage limitations. Industry observers indicate that this may pressure other big publishers to follow suit and use modular methods for their live-service games.