Before the launch of Fortnite Season 10, the game's Twitter account teased the addition of a new mech-like vehicle, the B.R.U.T.E. While excited at first, fans quickly changed their tune when they got a look at the Season 10 patch notes, which revealed just how overpowered the new vehicle is. Now, with the B.R.U.T.E. available in-game, frustration among players has only gotten worse.
The B.R.U.T.E. is a two-person vehicle in which one player controls the movement while the other operates the weapons. Fitted with a shotgun and a missile launcher, the B.R.U.T.E. spawns at random across the Fornite map during nearly every zone. The vehicle can launch across the map with ease, dealing significant amounts of damage to players who cross its path.
Quickly after its addition to Battle Royale, players began to realize that taking on the B.R.U.T.E. one-on-one is nearly impossible. The vehicle's ability to launch up to 10 missiles at a time proves difficult to evade for even the most experienced of builders. If that isn't bad enough, the vehicle has 1,000 HP and a protective shield, meaning by the time a player is able to lower its health enough to destroy it, another missile barrage is likely coming their way.
Once the Fortnite community caught wind of just how broken the new vehicle is, they flocked to social media to voice their displeasure. Clip after clip was posted, showing players being taken out by the B.R.U.T.E. in ridiculous ways. Even some of the most notable Fortnite streamers joined in on the hate parade.
"Dear Epic, I love you guys...I do BUT whoever decided to add ten Optimus Primes to the map every game in Season X needs to be put in timeout," wrote popular Fortnite streamer Jack "Courage" Dunlop on Twitter. "Why do these things have 1,000 HP, a protective shield, 10 missiles to launch, and can stomp my ass out?"
Another problem with the mech that has begun to cause issues is that although it's a two-player vehicle, it can be operated by a single person. If a player decides to get into the B.R.U.T.E., they can switch between the weapons and operations controls easily. That feature makes the vehicle not only a menace in team gamemodes, but in Solo as well.
The concerns that players are expressing about the B.R.U.T.E. are eerily similar to another weapon that once plagued Fortnite, the Infinity Blade. Introduced in Season 7 of Battle Royale, the sword was a melee weapon that would instantly increase a player's health and shield to 200 when equipped. It would also regenerate health over time if the player wielding it took damage.
Quickly after the Infinity Blade became available, fans began to complain, claiming the weapon was too overpowered. It took only four days for the sword to be vaulted and was only ever seen again in the Sword Fight gamemode. Hopefully, Epic takes a similar stance with the B.R.U.T.E. and removes it before it causes any more frustration.