The Basics: The Loop
Hey! Welcome. Today, we’ll be analyzing an essential part of Fortnite’s storytelling: The Loop.
The secrets of this strange phenomenon are still unraveling at the time of writing this post, so we’ll be updating it as new things are revealed about its origins and functionality.
Now, let’s go over everything we know!
The Loop is a 22-minute temporal event which influences organic matter on the Island. We can assume this is done by having the Zero Point copy the Island — a “Snapshot” — and then applying all game elements (such as The Storm).
Who’s behind it?
The puppet-masters currently in possession of the Zero Point.
It’s controlled by the Imagined Order through The Bridge, their extensive underground complex. It functions through mental manipulation of those unfortunate enough to stumble upon this world, making them battle until the last one stands.
Memories of your life before the loop are unreachable, and your speech functions are completely blocked. The only way to communicate is through hand-signals and other gestures. You also lose hearing comprehension, any voices being turned to “awe-wo-wa”s.
A Loop’s end is marked by the closure of the Storm, after it performs multiple rotations in circular motion. Whoever is the last remaining “Looper”, and happens to be in the exact center of the Storm’s eye, escapes. After a short while, they recover their memories of all loops at once — alongside their voice.
Now, we mentioned the term snapshot earlier. It’s also used to describe how the Loop creates a copy of every person who stays long enough within it, and inserts that copy into all future loops. Even if you leave the Loop, a piece of you remains.
After escaping, loopers are returned to a seemingly non-chaotic version of the Island.
If you touch the Zero Point from outside of the Loop, you get shattered into different realities in quite the demise. We don’t suggest doing that. However, if you touch it from inside of the Loop — you just get knocked back.
Who’s within it?
Those brought in to be cataloged, and manipulated by the IO.
Most loopers seem to be from different “Source Worlds”, brought into chaos by the IO for their endless purpose: to experiment and comprehend all of existence.
Although the Island does seem to have natives, it’s unknown if their origin is the un-looped version of the Island, or the Loop itself.
Those who the IO bring upon the Island are named “Assets”, and monitored by their Acquisitions department.
Let’s see… what else are we missing from this disturbing science experiment done by megalomaniacs? Oh, right!
Those who remain in the Loop seem to be immortal, and their aging is slowed. They might die thousands — if not millions of times, but they’ll always be reinstated into a previous version of themselves after a short while. The biggest example of this is Agent John Jones from the IO, who’s entered the Loop time and time again.
Those who escape can remain on the normal Island for as long as they desire, as seen with Renegade Raider residing there for 4 years.
Memories aren’t saved between each loop, but feelings reside. Trust, respect, love and among others are key factors into loopers being able to escape this inter-dimensional cul-de-sac of battle.
Some who escape are able to talk to those still looped. It’s unknown how this is possible, however it might be an unintentional consequence of the IO’s control over these people, as seen by the glitching nature of these characters.
This might seem like a LOT of information, so here’s a quick TL;DR to help solidify what you’ve read.
The Loop lasts 22 minutes. It’s made to control people as the IO analyzes them. Everyone who’s in it has their memories and speech blocked. They’re pushed by a shrinking Storm to fight. If they die, they return on the next loop. If they’re the last one standing, and within the eye of the Storm, they escape the combat. Inorganic objects like written notes aren’t looped.
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Thank you for reading! See you in the Loop.
Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point: ™ & © DC.
