It’s fair to say that Fortnite Battle Royale has quickly become one of the biggest games in the world, which is surprising for a free game, in a genre, where there are paid, AAA games available. Epic Games has done such a wonderful job on what was originally a side project to their main game, Fortnite (Save The World). The game boasts weekly updates, fun, innovative limited time playlists, and in-game additions inspired by players’ actual requests and desires. This is a developer that actively listens to its community, and acts accordingly. Season 4 has launched last week, and its superhero theme is adding a lot of fun flair to the game’s newly decimated map. Dusty Depot has become Dusty Divot, the site of a huge meteorite impact. But this week, something else has landed as well. In the current “limited time mashup” (LTM), infinity Gauntlet, the Avengers arch-nemesis, Thanos, has come to Fortnite, and he’s brought his infamous Gauntlet with him!

In Infinity Gauntlet, it’s starts out like a standard Solo game, but with a bit of a Blitz twist. 99 players, every man for himself. When you jump from the bus, the first circle is already visible, and the storm is getting ready to move. Once the storms starts to move, the Infinity Gauntlet crashes down to the ground somewhere in the circle. The first player to claim it transforms into Thanos, and gains new abilities. If Thanos is killed, the Gauntlet is up for grabs again. Last man standing wins.

“This does put a smile on my face.”

Obviously, it ‘s great to see a Blitz style LTM once more. Blitz was likely the most popular game mode while it was around, and players have been requesting its return since it ran its course. The faster storm, shorter cool downs, and set time limit for the game definitely make the action feel quicker and more intense. It’s a perfect fit for Thanos to be thrown into the mix.

Thanos himself is quite a fun addition. Once a player takes the Infinity Gauntlet, they become the Mad Titan, and launch into the sky to dive down once more, landing in a classic superhero pose. Once on the battlefield, Thanos is armed with 3 main abilities. He has a devastating punch that decimates players and demolishes structures.  A second ability also triggers the Power Stone on the Gauntlet to blast enemies with an energy beam. Thanos can also jump super high into the sky, and deliver both offensive abilities while in the air. He also has incredibly beefed up stats, with a huge health bar, and more shields than players can normally acquire.

“I hope they remember you.”

Now, Thanos isn’t invincible. Skilled players will surely rack up some crazy kill counts, but even with his beefed up stats, and a mystical cosmic glove, it takes precision and skill to do well with him. His mobility is limited, and even his super jump takes a few seconds to charge up. A couple players with decent weapons and a bit of patience can wear him down quite easily if they get the chance. Now, This Guy understands that games have to have balance, but much like Gun Media’s Friday The 13th game, the villain/boss is SUPPOSED to be OP. Thanos makes the Avengers look like neighborhood watch dorks. I’m not saying we should he should be able to snap his fingers and annihilate half the universe. But players should see Thanos and run, not look at him like an easy target who can’t escape quickly. Regardless, I’m sure Epic will be tweaking the playlist a bit more before the end.

Overall, Infinity Gauntlet is a terrific way to kick off Season 4’s LTM modes. And a huge feather in Epic’s cap to strike a deal with Disney and Marvel for this kind of crossover. Fortnite Battle Royale continues to grow, evolve, and become more and more legit as not just a niche free game, but a mainstream gaming community. And if they continue this trend of growth, it could become a real mainstay in the gaming world.