Latest Fortnite update includes Drum Shotgun and July 4th heroes

Olivia Richman Published 03/07/2019

Another update is now live on Fortnite. 

Epic has released the latest patch notes for Fortnite as the 14 Days of Summer event continues. Now live for PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices, the small update includes a brand new weapon for the game’s Battle Royale mode. 

The Drum Shotgun is a new addition to Fortnite this week. It comes in common, uncommon, and rare varieties, and can be found as floor loot or inside vending machines and Loot Carriers. With a clip size of 12 and dealing up to 50 damage per shot it’s no Pump Shotgun, but it’s still a very powerful weapon. 

Some are saying it might even be a bit too powerful. 

The Drug Shotgun’s damage per second is 180 to 200. Compare that to the grey Tactical Shotgun, which only delivers 106 DPS, or the rare Combat Shotgun’s 135. The Drum Shotgun can easily break down walls with only a few shots. 

Check it out in action. 

Famous Fortnite streamer Tyler “Ninja” Blevins called the gun “effective.” 

While this was the only major update, there were a few other notable updates. As the 14 Days of Summer event continues, new challenges and limited time modes will continue to become available each day. 

For the Fourth of July holiday, Epic brought back four heroes for a limited time. This includes Stars and Stripes Jonesy, Star-Spangled Headhunter, Patriot Penny, and Old Glory AC. Gamers can earn Stars and Stripes Jonesy by completing the “Light’em Up” quest. 

A new Wargames simulation is also available. Called Meltdown, the simulation has the Storm Shield going critically wrong. It’s now emitting a growing radiation field. This causes some issues while in direct contact, according to patch notes. The simulation brings about more chances for Event Tickets, a new banner, and more variety to the Daily Wargames Challenges. 

Olivia Richman

About Olivia Richman

Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.

View full profile

Read Also

Fortnite

Fortnite x Obsession collab could be in the works as teaser drops Zachary Roberts Nowadays, anything popular ends up getting a Fortnite crossover. Even if it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. There's an American Dad crossover, a Game of Thrones collaboration, and so much more that at one point would've been totally shocking to a gamer. That includes popular movies. Even before it truly hit theaters and took off, there were skins for The Odyssey in the Item Shop. Similarly, another 2026 smash ...

Fortnite

Fortnite adds over 30 AI voices to skins for Creative mode Zachary Roberts Fortnite has come under fire recently for its usage of AI, with one collaboration immediately reexamining the partnership after that revelation. Generative AI usage in games is generally frowned upon by gamers, although game developers are more commonly using it now. That, of course, includes Epic Games, which has just sort of doubled down on the AI usage in Fortnite. However, instead of the normal gen AI, Epic has assigned ...

Fortnite

Fortnite Hot Bat Summer: Release time, skins, and more Zachary Roberts The Fortnite Hot Bat Summer is upon us. Every year, there is an update for the summer that brings in beach settings, swimsuit-wearing characters, and more. This year, it's got a DC tilt, with some of the most iconic superheroes and villains taking a load off to cool down in the heat. Here's what you need to know about it. First and foremost, you need to know what characters are ...

Fortnite

Fortnite collaboration in danger after generative AI revelation Zachary Roberts Fortnite has crossovers with so many different things. If Epic Games wants something in the game, it usually happens. Whether it's Darth Vader, Spider-Man, Batman, Patrick Mahomes, LeBron James, Sabrina Carpenter, or Khaby Lame, anything the developers want usually ends up in the game. It's rare for a collaboration to end up cancelled, but there's real danger of that happening right now. Vampire Survivors was supposed to have a collaboration ...

Fortnite

How to find TheBurntPeanut in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3 Zachary Roberts Wondering how to find TheBurntPeanut in Fortnite? You're not alone. The streamer is the latest high-profile collaboration in the game, but it's a little different this time. Instead of being a skin or an NPC, the streamer is a Sprite. These are relatively new to the game, so if you're wondering about that or where TheBurntPeanut is, we've got you covered. TheBurntPeanut is one of the most unique crossovers in ...

Fortnite

When does the current Fortnite season end? Zachary Roberts When does the current Fortnite season end? This is a question that's always important to know the answer to. For one thing, many elements of the season, such as the items and characters, will go away at that time. That is also when players will no longer be able to earn battle pass rewards. So, when does the current Fortnite season end? Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3 just began, but ...

Fortnite

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3 Battle Pass leaks early, here are the characters Zachary Roberts Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3 is coming in a matter of days, so now is a great time to keep your eyes peeled for leaks. They'll be flowing pretty freely in the lead-up to June 5, which is when the current season ends. Unsurprisingly, the battle pass has and will continue to be a big part of that. While we don't know every item that will be included, we do ...