Fortnite v10.00 patch notes: Season X is here

As promised, Fortnite season X has arrived, and it's bringing some big changes along with it. Of course, we're used to seeing sweeping changes every time a new season launches, and this time around, the explosion of the Zero Point is having some strange effects on the map. "Locations once thought to be lost have begun to appear on the island, but they aren't the same as they once were" Epic's promo for season X reads, prompting players to explore these reappearing areas to see what's changed.

Chief among these past locations that have returned is Dusty Depot, which was destroyed by a meteor impact back in season 3. It's been a long time since Dusty Depot was in the game, and a lot of Epic's teases and promotional materials for season X have centered around the location. If you're dropping into a game of Fortnite today, it seems that Dusty Depot should be at the top of your list of places to visit.

Dusty Depot as it appears in season 10 is known as a Rift Zone, and there are more of them dotted across the map. Epic is being vague about what these Rift Zones mean for the season as a whole, telling players today to simply "drop in and explore to discover what mysterious gameplay changes" these Rift Zones have in store.

Just as the teasers suggested, the launch of season X also brings a new rideable mech along with it. Named B.R.U.T.E, this mech can be controlled by either one or two players. One player will serve as the mech's driver, with the ability to dash, super jump, and stomp on enemies or structures, while the second rider will be the mech's gunner. You'll have a shotgun and missile launcher in your tool kit, with the latter having the ability to fire up to 10 missiles at once.

The mech also has a special ability that grants it an overshield by consuming materials. It takes 200 materials of any type to use the overshield, which protects the mech from damage for five seconds. You can collect materials while in the mech by destroying structures and environmental objects, so make sure you've got enough to power the overshield when you get into skirmishes.

Beyond Rift Zones and the B.R.U.T.E, there a number of weapons being vaulted for the start of season 10. The Baller, Quad Crasher, Flint Knock Pistol, Shadow Bomb, Semi-Auto Sniper, Tactical Assault Rifle, Mounted Turret, and Air Strike have all been vaulted. This is par for the course for Epic, as it typically vaults a ton of weapons and items at the beginning of a season to make room for all of the new stuff it plans to release throughout it.

To read more about Fortnite season X, be sure to check out Epic's full patch notes over on the official Fortnite website. It sounds like Fortnite's island has changed pretty dramatically with the launch of season X, so hop into the game and go exploring.