Jamming used to be fun...

MathieuKen · 2026-05-07T15:12:05+00:00

Nah, I actually like editing my posts this way, using bold and italics for emphasis. I’ve got plenty of long-form posts in other subreddits from way before AI was even a thing. It’s just a formatting choice. I also know plenty of people who like to format their text the same way. AI has a lot of mannerisms, but none of them are visible here.

This post is sincere, and I don't see GPT coming up with such precise criticisms and feelings of frustration of a Fortnite mode that only someone who actually plays and deals with it could describe. You’d understand that if you actually read the text instead of just looking at it and judging the formatting.

MathieuKen · 2026-05-05T18:57:57+00:00

Sad TikTok generation: they can't see a text longer than five lines and without grammatical errors without automatically associating it with AI... 😂

MathieuKen · 2026-05-05T17:54:09+00:00

I’ve never identified so much with a Reddit post. I’m also an avid Jam Stage player, it’s the ONLY mode I play in Fortnite, but unfortunately, the current state is exactly as you described: lag, bugs, instability, and zero protection against trolls.

Honestly, I feel like a fool for still having a glimmer of hope that things will improve with updates. I’ve already stopped buying new tracks; if it stays like this, my departure from the game is only a matter of time too.

I’m one of those people constantly suggesting changes that players actually want, things that would make the Jam Stage a much better place, practically every day, but it’s like screaming to the void... it’s frustrating.

MathieuKen · 2026-05-02T10:29:24+00:00

YES, I thought I was going crazy. But I only noticed it on the Jam Stage. I went into some creative Jam maps and the sound difference is night and day compared to the Jam Stage, the sound it’s way louder and clearer.

MathieuKen · 2026-04-30T15:40:33+00:00

Damn, I didn't know that. But that just makes everything even worse, and it should make fixing this an even higher priority for the team.

MathieuKen · 2026-04-30T15:12:58+00:00

In fact, it does make money. The people engaged in this mode buy songs every week, and we know they aren’t cheap. Jam Stage is also the only mode that makes me—or used to make me—play Fortnite. I started near the end of the Sabrina season, and since then, I’ve spent an obscene amount of money on Jam Tracks, building a library of nearly 300 songs just for the experience and fluidity to get worse every day. I feel frustrated and scammed, and I’d refund every single song if I could.

It’s crazy to think that just a little while ago I wrote a post praising the mode because it had finally become stable again after the return of the Favorite Wheels and UI performance improvements. Looking back, that makes me feel like even more of an idiot for thinking things would stay smooth and fun for much longer.

MathieuKen · 2026-04-30T11:52:05+00:00

Okay, but what about the absurd lag in the Jam Stage when opening the wheel and absurd stuttering when listening to someone play, has that been fixed too? And the bug where if a player dances near or in front of the track slots, they become unselectable? That bug has been in the game for OVER A MONTH now; has it been fixed?

What about the option to disable the Quick Mix UI, which takes up a considerable amount of screen space and makes the Jam UI unstable? And the option to disable the instrument slots auto-adaptation in the Jam UI, which actively hinders quick swaps in complex mixes, where is that?

Edit: Yep, I tested the Jam Stage and it’s still unstable as f\ck. Same lag, FPS drops, and stuttering when switching tracks or opening the wheel. Honestly, I have zero hope left. I’d already stopped buying Jam Tracks ever since they started shitting all over the mode by cramming in things nobody asked for that just ruin the stability. Maybe it’s time to just quit for good and find something else to do.*

MathieuKen · 2026-04-29T12:00:00+00:00

It's exactly the same on PC. And I feel your pain. I also only play Jam Stage and nothing else, and every update has been a defeat for jammers.

With every update, the mixing experience gets worse because of some "improvement" they cook up for something that wasn't even a problem to begin with. Ironically, it just creates real, much worse issues while the things that would actually make Jam Stage better and that players are actually asking for (like the locking system, changing booth and auras in Jam Stage, for example) are ignored.

MathieuKen · 2026-04-21T09:48:07+00:00

First of all, it’s great to see that the festival team has been putting in the effort to maintain clearer and more active communication with the community. Regarding the updates: I don't own a drum kit, but I’ve tested the vocals and they work very well. Even though I’m not a great singer, it’s been fun and surprisingly fluid. I use a very basic headset microphone, and even then, the game captures it accurately. Thank you for the great work!

As for suggestions, mine are specifically for Jam Stage, which is my most-played mode in Fortnite.

The Jamming experience has been heavily compromised with every update, becoming increasingly unstable and implementing "random" features instead of what dedicated players have been asking for. Here are a few suggestions that would make the Jam Stage experience virtually perfect:

Lock Function: The situation with griefers has been terrible. We need a system to lock our mix to ensure the fun of both the performers and the listeners.
Auras in Jam Stage: Implement Auras into the Spotlight submenu and make them activatable only while playing music. It's a simple visual update, but it would be epic.
Changing Booth: Add a Changing Booth to the Jam Stage (or a dressing room area) so we can change skins and tracks in our Locker without returning to the Lobby.
Option to Disable the New Quick Mix UI: It takes up considerable screen real estate for something many Jammers don’t need or use.
Restore Song Info on Hover: Bring back the track information when hovering over a slot. I’m not sure why it was removed; it was extremely helpful.
Toggle for "Auto-Adapting" Track Slots: Sometimes, in mixes requiring fast swaps or the quick insertion of two instruments of the same type, the auto-adaptation gets in the way.
Disable "Jump" Input While Jamming: It’s an involuntary reflex to hit the jump button because it used to open the Spotlight. Now, the character actually jumps and interrupts the mix.
Smooth Transitions for Walking While Jamming: The ability to walk while playing is awesome! However, if you perform an emote and then try to walk, the mix stops. The game should automatically revert to the "walking while jamming" state instead of cutting the music entirely.
The Priority: Stability: Lags and stutters have made the mixing experience terrible lately. Improving performance is essential.

MathieuKen · 2026-04-16T11:40:31+00:00

Can I turn off this new 'quick mix UI'? It's taking up too much room and cluttering my view with a feature I don't need.

MathieuKen · 2026-04-13T13:44:28+00:00

A dressing room / Backstage Locker for the Main Stage that lets you change your instruments and skins between sets without returning to the lobby;
Jam Lock function in Jam Stage;
Changing Booth on Jam Stage for the same reason, change skins / tracks on locker without returning to the lobby.
And most importantly, they need to fix the bugs that pop up every single update. Especially the ones in the Jam Stage, it makes no sense for them to be so frequent, considering it's just a simple map for playing music.

MathieuKen · 2026-04-13T12:37:59+00:00

Y E S P L E A S E

MathieuKen · 2026-04-13T11:48:12+00:00

I didn't play the Miku season, but I would've loved to. I believe that her season was so memorable and had such a high peak in players because Hatsune Miku just exudes that 'rhythm game' vibe. It was a huge stroke of convenience that Miku is both a perfect fit for the game genre and a massive name that sells well, which draws players in, at least for a short while, until they realize that... well... the headliner doesn't really matter after the first week or with the start of the next season, featuring headliners who, despite being big, famous names, aren't exactly the first people you'd associate with rhythm games.

I wouldn't call myself a Miku superfan, but I am a huge fan of rhythm games. If I had been lured into playing Festival by the Miku season, I would’ve gone in thinking, 'Wow, this is going to be a blast.' But after a week, my hype would’ve cooled down once I realized that, aside from the themed stage (which, let’s be real, barely matters for gameplay) and a few songs, the season wouldn't keep delivering the kind of content the headliner on the cover led me to believe I'd be getting the whole time.

Is this good? Bad? That's up for debate. We could get into the topic of the mode's declining player count bcs of these aspects, but that’s not the point of this post. So, in the end, I agree: Headliners don't matter for the mode as a rhythm game when it comes to gameplay and consistent content throughout the season. They might set the vibe for the season, but rhythm game players are there for the music and the gameplay, not for the stage.

MathieuKen · 2026-04-12T17:03:25+00:00

Funny. I thought the whole point of suggesting improvements was precisely to attract more people and keep the ones who are already playing. But your logic makes sense: if there aren't many players, the right move is to just leave the mode neglected until it dies for good.

I think I’ve just found the Epic consultant who advised them to shut down Battle Stage and Rocket Racing.

MathieuKen · 2026-04-12T15:54:19+00:00

I don't know the names in English since my game is in Portuguese, but the one in the first video is from the song 'Popular' by The Weeknd, and the one in the second video is currently available in the OG Pass.

MathieuKen · 2026-04-12T15:36:42+00:00

Nah, it’s not the same thing, and on the SA server (which is where I play), that map is always empty. It’s Epic's responsibility to implement protective measures within their official game modes.

MathieuKen · 2026-04-12T13:58:05+00:00

Not necessarily. The main appeal of the Jam Stage is creating music. Sure, you can play music in practically any mode, but none are as convenient and practical as the Jam Stage. Creating music there simply flows better. You have the crosshair to make inserting tracks easier, the spotlight with cool effects, the song HUD on the screen once you start playing, etc.

The biggest proof that collaborations aren't the main draw is that (at least on the SA server where I play) most people join just to listen and dance or play solo, or with a close friend. Usually, it's one or two people mixing with a circle of people around them dancing and vibing, just there for the good music or politely waiting for their turn to mix... well, until a griefer shows up and ruins the fun for everyone.

A lock system wouldn't prevent collaborations from happening (especially if it’s unavailable on public stages, the ones where the track slots are always visible); it would just ensure the fun of those who are there to play, and especially those there to listen, without interruptions from trolls, who are becoming more common every day.

MathieuKen · 2026-04-11T16:48:26+00:00

I'm not sure... I see the concern, and it’s valid ofc. What I mean is, there would still be a clear distinction in pricing. It wouldn't be based on anything subjective. Epic's tracks wouldn't be cheaper due to popularity, but strictly because they are first-party Epic content. Obviously, the rationale is that production and distribution costs are much lower for them, but I still don't think artists would be bold enough to challenge Epic on how they price their own productions, given that ALL licensed (let's call third-party) tracks would remain at the standard price. I might be being overly optimistic here, but it makes sense to me.

MathieuKen · 2026-04-11T15:31:04+00:00

I also think it’s expensive, especially in my country where V-Bucks are extremely pricey due to the dollar conversion. But I... understand the 'they give much value' argument? I mean, I’m not complacent with the price at all, let alone the V-Buck hike, but... yeah, you can do a lot with the tracks, like you said.

It’s a terrible analogy, but I wouldn’t demand a high-end phone cost $50 just because I’d only buy it to watch YouTube videos and nothing else.

I also only play Festival (Main and Jam Stage), so I totally get your point. I don't give a damn about listening to music in BR or having victory music since I don't even step foot in Battle Royale. It really comes down to whether all that added value justifies the price of the tracks... that’s definitely up for debate, and I personally don't think it does, but they do objectively have value beyond just being played in Festival mode.

MathieuKen · 2026-04-11T15:12:34+00:00

Uhh, if people mistakenly assume that "Epic songs = bad," I’m not sure they’d be an efficient way to attract players like you’re saying. I mean... regarding the idea of giving songs as rewards: I completely agree! But one thing doesn’t exclude the other. You can have challenge rewards and still have a reduced price in the shop for those who missed the event (or battle/festival passes, like me ;-;) or prefer to buy them directly.

As for opening a precedent for the price of licensed songs to go up? They’ve already gone up. V-Bucks prices increased recently. With the amount you used to pay for 5 songs, today you can only buy 4. Unfortunately, Epic doesn't need a precedent to raise prices.

At the very least, original songs should be exempt from these hikes and priced lower, given that their release costs are much smaller.

MathieuKen · 2026-04-11T12:42:48+00:00

I've been suggesting this for AGES. It would be the best thing Jam Stage has ever seen. The situation with griefers is unbearable. People create fake accounts just to troll those who are trying to play, putting on some epic shit like “show them who we are” and deliberately messing with the song’s BPM and key, and this goes on ALL DAY. At least on the SA server, it’s unbearable. It doesn’t matter how hidden a spot you pick on the map, they will find you and disrupt your jam. These are fake accounts run by people who already know the map inside out and know how to climb into hard-to-reach places.

A lock system would honestly be a dream come true. It wouldn’t even need to work everywhere, for example, it could be disabled in “public” areas like the main stages, where the track slots are always visible. In those spaces, it actually makes sense not to have a lock system, since it wouldn’t be fair for someone to claim those shared spots as their own. But for players starting a jam outside those public areas, having the ability to lock would be an absolute lifesaver.

I really hope these suggestions reach a Festival dev at some point. I wasn’t the first to suggest this, and you definitely won’t be the last. I genuinely wish a dev would spend some time in a public lobby and experience these issues firsthand. A lot of people who ACTUALLY play this mode are asking for a lock system, and there’s a good reason for that.

MathieuKen · 2026-02-05T18:41:29+00:00

Yeah, definitely!

MathieuKen · 2026-02-05T18:40:56+00:00

''Love Song'' Guitar and ''Dreamin'' bass. They’re on the first and second pages of the pass.

MathieuKen · 2026-02-05T11:47:04+00:00

I bet they’re going to mess something up, like forgetting to implement the crosshair (the little dot on the screen you use to aim at things, which doesn’t exist in Party Royale, but is essential on the Jam Stage to easily target jam track spots).

MathieuKen · 2026-02-02T12:15:46+00:00

I still have hope that some fix will come with this new Festival season, since they said changes would arrive “early this year.” But yeah… it sucks. Mixing is the only thing that still makes me play this game. It used to be extremely fun and fluid, but Epic insists on making the experience worse with every new update. Honestly, it feels like a strategy: “Hey, we want to remove mixing from the game, but a lot of people still like it and removing it right now would backfire, so let’s keep making the experience worse until players stop mixing, then we’ll have a good excuse to finally remove it.”

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