Battle Bus

Disambig gray This article is about the mechanic. For the Car Body, see Battle Bus (Car Body). For the Outfit, see BattleBus.

The Battle Bus is a Gameplay Mechanic in Fortnite that was introduced in the Pre-Season.

It was replaced by Storm Surfing during Chapter 7: Season 1 until December 4th where it was reinstated in proper working condition.

Overview

Overview[]

The Battle Bus is an aerial vehicle in Battle Royale that transports players to the Battle Royale Island at the beginning of every match. It has a specific path, which is randomized each game, that it follows over the Island to let players exit and land. This path is always a straight line. When the Battle Bus' doors open and players are able to jump out, its horn sounds. Once the Battle Bus has reached the end of its path, players who haven’t exited the Battle Bus will be immediately dropped from it.

By pressing the emote button before exiting the Battle Bus players can thank the Bus Driver with message appearing in the Elimination Feed "[Player Name] has thanked the bus driver."

Appearance

Appearance[]

The default Battle Bus combines a blue-painted school bus with a large hot air balloon, which inflates with a blue flame to allow the vehicle to fly. Wheel clamps on the bus' back tires render it immobile on the ground.

It is very similar to Lars' Van from Save the World, and even includes a BluGlo funnel on the front.

In Chapter 4, the Battle Bus was equipped with rocket engines in order to be able to fly through space. Upon reaching the boundaries of the Island, the engine would shut down, the boosters would be jettisoned, and the hot air balloon would be inflated.

Variations[]

The Battle Bus has had many visual variations throughout Battle Royale's lifetime:

Birthday[]

For each of Fortnite: Battle Royale's Birthdays, the Battle Bus earns a decorated appearance featuring confetti, balloons and the number of its birthday:

Fortnitemares[]

For each year's Fortnitemares, the Battle Bus takes on a spooky, Halloween-themed appearance featuring gravestones, candles, jack-o'-lanterns, cobwebs, and spooky music.

Winterfest[]

For each year's Winterfest, the Battle Bus takes on a festive, holiday-themed appearance featuring fairy lights, an inflatable Santa head on the balloon, a red and green paintjob, and calm music.

Other[]

Music

Music[]

Description Audio
Birthday
Fortnitemares
Winterfest
Born in Chaos
History

History[]

Pre-Season

Update v1.6

  • Introduced the Battle Bus alongside the launch of Battle Royale.

Season 4

Update v4.40

  • All Battle Buses received updated visuals.
    • The Crashed Battle Bus is now destructible along with gaining a proper deflated balloon prop.

Season 5

Update v5.30

  • Players now have the ability to thank the Battle Bus Driver by pressing the Emote key/button when inside the bus. Doing so displays a message in the Elimination Feed that states "[Player Name] has thanked the bus driver."

Season 6

Update v6.20

  • During Fortnitemares 2018, another Crashed Battle Bus could have been seen, as a result of the Floating Island exploding. It could have been found north of Loot Lake, and west of Lazy Links. The model of this Battle Bus is the same as the crashed one outside of Shifty Shafts. At the same time this Battle Bus was added, the old crashed Battle Bus was removed.

Season X

Update v10.40

Chapter 2: Season 2

Update v12.30

Chapter 2: Season 4

Update v14.30

  • Iron Man starts to redesign the Battle Bus, giving it upgraded features.

Update v14.40

  • Iron Man has fully redesigned the Battle Bus to be optimized for The Devourer of Worlds Live Event These used Gamma Cells to stay in the air, instead of a balloon - the first time the Battle Bus flew without a balloon. The Battle Bus returned to normal after the event.

Chapter 2: Season 6

Update v16.00

Chapter 3: Season 2

Update v20.00

  • The Battle Bus now has a black and orange balloon with a target-like appearance. The Armored Battle Bus is also added as a vehicle.

Chapter 3: Season 3

Update v21.00

  • The Battle Bus now has graffiti on it.

Update v21.40

  • Introduced the Dragon Ball Z appearance of the Battle Bus.

Update v21.50

Chapter 3: Season 4

Update v22.00

  • The Battle Bus has been reverted to its original appearance.

Update v22.30

  • November 5th 2022: FNCS Battle Bus appearance is now live.
  • November 14th 2022: Reverted to default appearance.

Chapter 4: Season 1

Update v23.00

  • The Battle Bus has received a redesign, being equipped with rocket engines on its back, meaning that Spawn Island is in space.

Chapter 4: Season 4

Update v26.00

  • During the 6th Birthday Quests from September 19th 2023 to September 26th 2023, thanking the bus driver would prompt "[Player Name] wished the bus driver a happy birthday" in the Elimination Feed.

Chapter 4: Season OG

Update v27.00

  • The Battle Bus has been reverted to its original appearance.

Chapter 5: Season 4

Update v31.00

  • During the 7th Birthday Quests from September 24th 2024 to October 1st 2024, thanking the bus driver would prompt "[Player Name] wished the bus driver a happy birthday" in the Elimination Feed.

Chapter 2 Remix

Update v32.00

Chapter 6: Season 1

Update v33.00

  • The Battle Bus' default appearance has returned.

Galactic Battle

Update v35.00

  • May 2nd 2025: The Battle Bus now plays Star Wars music.
  • May 9th 2025: The Battle Bus has received a new FNCS PRO-AM design.

Chapter 6: Season 4

Update v37.40

  • The Battle Bus now plays Golden by HUNTR/X.

Update v37.50

  • The Battle Bus now plays the regular music again.

Update v37.51

Chapter 6: Mini Season 2

Update v38.00

  • Kang and Kodos no longer appear next to the Battle Bus.
  • The Battle Bus now has a new design.
  • It's now piloted by Otto Mann and has a new message in the Elimination Feed, "[Player Name] has thanked Otto, the bus driver."
    • This marks the first time that the bus driver has been given an actual identity.
  • The Battle Bus also, for the first time ever, has a unique opening animation, based on the Simpsons' opening.

Chapter 7: Season 1

Update v39.00

November 29th 2025

  • The Battle Bus was destroyed by the Dark Harvester.
  • It now has a new message in the Elimination Feed: "[Player Name] has paid respect to the bus driver."

December 4th 2025

  • The Battle Bus is back in proper working condition.
    • However, Storm Surfing can still occur with a 20% chance.
      • While Storm Surfing, the message in the Elimination Feed will now say: "[Player Name] catches the wave and hangs ten."

Update v39.20

January 9th 2026

  • The Battle Bus has a new design for the South Park collaboration.
  • The instrumental for the show's theme song now plays from the Battle Bus.

Chapter 7: Season 2

Update v40.00

  • The Battle Bus is now drivable and steerable by a random player.
    • When pressing a emote button if a player is the bus driver, the message now says "[Player Name] wants everyone to know they're the bus driver"
    • When the other players thank the driver, the message now says "[Player Name] has thanked [Driver Name] for driving the bus smoothly"

Chapter 7: Season 3

Update v41.00

  • The Battle Bus is no longer drivable and steerable by a random player as it revert back to the regular bus driver that only drive the straight line of any route.
    • In addition to this, the player can now aim down sight while still on the battle bus and pin on and Landmarks location on where they want to land on.

Trivia

Trivia[]

  • The logo on the top of Battle Buses suggests that they are made by Vindertech.
    • Additionally, the Battle Bus went under the name VinderBus in early French translations during Pre-Season, further supporting this theory.[1]
  • Before the Battlebus was redesigned in Chapter 1: Season 4, the front wheels were also clamped, the reason for this change in the redesign are unknown.
  • The option to thank the Bus Driver was added in response to a petition asking for the feature.
  • Thor calls the Battle Bus the "War Wagon" in The Devourer of Worlds Live Event.
  • The identity of the Battle Bus driver is unknown, but its hinted by Farmer Steel that may be an older individual, since he tells us to "respect our elders" in a quest to thank the bus driver.
  • The messages that could appear at random on the Slurp Blimp during Chapter 6: Mini Season 2 were:
    • "Do not actually eat Bart's shorts."
    • "Warning: Zombies ahead!"
    • "Just one more match..."
    • "Victory Royale, now with 20% more Royale."
    • "Remember to thank your bus driver."
    • "Please do not eat the giant banana person."
    • "Despite the name, there is no battle on the battle bus, it's quite comfy and safe."
    • "Worst. Bus path. Ever."
    • "WARNING: Slurp shortage. Blame Shelbyville."
    • "El Barto was here"
    • "This is the closest we could get to a chalkboard gag."
    • "Coming soon: Moe's pet shop."
    • "Goodness in every glurp."
    • "How many characters do you think we can fit on this scrolling message?"
    • "Quench your thirst for health, shield, and thirstiness."
    • "Love to slurp that syrupy Slurp."
    • "Don't get caught in a thirst trap."
    • "For great burps, slam a Slurp."
    • "Eat my shorts, Shelbyville."
    • "Fun fact: Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is a fear of long words."
    • "You're in danger."
    • "Hi diddely-ho looperinos! Enjoy your Battle Royale-ino!"
  • The Battle Bus is present in some form in every Fortnite: Battle Royale season.
    • This includes Chapter 7: Season 1, where the destroyed bus is present at Ripped Tides.
      • However, Chapter 7: Season 1 is the only period of time where the Battle Bus was not the sole mode of transport to the island when starting a match.
      • The bus looks similar to the 2008 Blue Bird Vision
Gallery

Gallery[]

Promotional Images[]

Concept Art[]

Other[]

References

References[]

  1. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/FortNiteBR/comments/126u0n4/random_funfact_battle_bus_was_first_named/