Fortnite Nintendo Switch Guide – Release Date, Controls, Voice Chat

Our Fortnite Nintendo Switch guide covers all of the unique stuff that the Switch has to offer Fortnite, such as the release date, in-game controls, voice chat information, and everything else you can imagine!

If you don't know much about Fortnite, it is a free to play game where the object is to survive while 99 other players try to eliminate you! To aide in your survival, you will have a large arsenal of weaponry to choose from, however, you will need to locate this weaponry by scavenging around a large map. That might not seem too difficult, but you will have to do this while a deadly storm slowly closes in on you!

Finally, the big differentiating thing that Fortnite has going on with it is the building. If you've played Minecraft before, then you will have somewhat of an idea of how this works. You gather resources by hacking away at trees, boulders, and/or meteors. You can then use these materials to instantly build walls, ramps, floors, and/or ceilings! Use these building skills to aggressively push up towards your enemies, or utilize them as a way to create a base for yourself!

If you are looking to get better at the game, check out our Fortnite Tips and Tricks section!

Fortnite Nintendo Switch Release Date

Fortnite was announced at the E3 Nintendo Direct presentation and was released on June 12th, 2018!

Fortnite Nintendo Switch Controls - Motion?

There are multiple options when it comes to choosing what style of controls you'd like to go with. The default is Combat Pro, but I think most people will find that Builder Pro is the best option. It looks like there won't be an option to have motion control currently, but we'll see if it shows up in the future.

Combat Pro

• ZL Button: Change Building Material / Swap Trap
• L Button: Previous Building Piece
• ZR Button: Confirm
• R Button: Next Building Piece
• D-Pad Up: Inventory (Magaement, etc.)
• D-Pad Down: Emote
• D-Pad Left: Unbound
• D-Pad Right: Squad Comms
• Left Stick Press: Sprint, Auto-Sprint (Double-Click)
• Minus (-): Toggle Map
• Plus (+): Game Menu (Friends, etc.)
• X Button: Toggle Harvesting Tool
• Y Button: Trap (Tap), Interact (Tap / Hold)
• A Button: Toggle Build Mode, Edit Building Piece (Hold)
• B Button: Jump
• Right Stick: Look
• Right Stick Press: Rotate Building Piece (Tap)/Repair (Hold), Reset Building Edit (Edit Mode)

Builder Pro

• ZL Button: Stair Piece (Tap Select / Tap Place)
• L Button: Roof Piece (Tap Select / Tap Place)
• ZR Button: Wall Piece (Tap Select / Tap Place)
• R Button: Floor Piece (Tap Select / Tap Place)
• D-Pad Up: Inventory (Magaement, etc.)
• D-Pad Down: Emote
• D-Pad Left: Change Building Material / Trap
• D-Pad Right: Squad Comms
• Left Stick Press: Sprint, Auto-Sprint (Double-Click)
• Minus (-): Toggle Map
• Plus (+): Game Menu (Friends, etc.)
• X Button: Toggle Harvesting Tool
• Y Button: Trap (Tap), Interact (Tap / Hold)
• A Button: Toggle Build Mode, Edit Building Piece (Hold)
• B Button: Jump
• Right Stick: Look
• Right Stick Press: Rotate Building Piece (Tap)/Repair (Hold), Reset Building Edit (Edit Mode)

Old School

• ZL Button: Unbound
• L Button: Change Building Material / Swap Trap
• ZR Button: Confirm
• R Button: Rotate Building Piece
• D-Pad Up: Toggle Map
• D-Pad Down: Emote
• D-Pad Left: Unbound
• D-Pad Right: Squad Comms
• Left Stick Press: Sprint, Auto-Sprint (Double-Click)
• Minus (-): Inventory (Magaement, etc.)
• Plus (+): Game Menu (Friends, etc.)
• X Button: Next Building Piece
• Y Button: Trap (Tap), Interact (Tap / Hold)
• A Button: Toggle Build Mode, Edit Building Piece (Hold)
• B Button: Jump
• Right Stick: Look
• Right Stick Press: Repair (Hold), Reset Building Edit (Edit Mode)

Quick Builder

• ZL Button: Unbound
• L Button: Previous Building Piece
• ZR Button: Confirm
• R Button: Next Building Piece
• D-Pad Up: Toggle Map
• D-Pad Down: Emote
• D-Pad Left: Unbound
• D-Pad Right: Squad Comms
• Left Stick Press: Change Building Material/Swap Trap, Auto-Sprint (Double-Click)
• Minus (-): Inventory (Management, etc.)
• Plus (+): Game Menu (Friends, etc.)
• X Button: Select Trap
• Y Button: Interact (Tap/Hold)
• A Button: Toggle Build Mode, Edit Building Piece (Hold)
• B Button: Jump
• Right Stick: Look
• Right Stick Press: Repair, Reset Building Edit (Edit Mode)

Fortnite Nintendo Switch Voice Chat

One thing that might be a barrier of entry for players will be Nintendo's complete lack of voice chat. For people who want to duo or squad up with each other, this is going to make it pretty difficult to engage in any type of team play. Fortnite has made additions to the game that can help, not too long ago Epic added an emote wheel where you can choose icons that display whether you need ammo or healing and other important items of communication. This isn't the greatest system, but can work for basic instructions.

If you really want to get in-chat with a group, however, you'll need to utilize third party programs like Discord or Skype to get it done!