The Fortnite Unvaulting Event is one of the most memorable live events in Fortnite history. Originally taking place during Chapter 1 Season 8, the event gave players the opportunity to vote for a previously vaulted weapon or item to return to the game.
With Fortnite OG Season 9 featuring a new Unvaulting Event, many players are revisiting the original event and wondering exactly what happened the first time around.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Fortnite Unvaulting Event and why it remains one of Fortnite’s most important live events.
What Was the Original Fortnite Unvaulting Event?
The original Fortnite Unvaulting Event took place during Chapter 1 Season 8.
Players entered a special vault beneath Loot Lake and were presented with several vaulted items. Each player could use their pickaxe to vote for the item they wanted to return to Fortnite.
The available options included:
| Item | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Drum Gun | Won the vote |
| Infinity Blade | Did not win |
| Grappler | Did not win |
| Bouncer | Did not win |
| X-4 Stormwing | Did not win |
| Tactical SMG | Did not win |
After millions of votes were cast, the Drum Gun won and returned to Fortnite.
Why Was the Fortnite Unvaulting Event So Popular?
The Fortnite Unvaulting Event was the first time Epic Games allowed players to directly influence the game’s loot pool through a live event.
Rather than simply announcing a weapon’s return, Epic gave the community the power to decide.
This created huge excitement as players debated which item deserved to return.
Many Fortnite players still remember rushing towards their chosen weapon and trying to swing their pickaxe as quickly as possible to influence the outcome.
What Happened After the Vote?
The event didn’t end with the Drum Gun.
Immediately after the voting concluded, players witnessed a dramatic sequence involving the volcano that had appeared during Chapter 1 Season 8.
The volcano erupted and launched projectiles across the island.
Several locations were damaged, including:
- Tilted Towers
- Retail Row
These map changes helped set the stage for Chapter 1 Season 9, which later introduced Neo Tilted and Mega Mall.
The Arcana Glider Compensation
One aspect of the Fortnite Unvaulting Event that many players remember is the server issues.
Due to the huge number of players attempting to participate, some users were unable to enter the event or experienced technical problems while it was taking place.
To compensate affected players, Epic Games later granted the Arcana Glider to everyone who should have been able to participate.
The Arcana Glider has since become one of the most memorable rewards associated with the original Fortnite Unvaulting Event.
Because of what happened during the first event, many players are planning to log in early for today’s Fortnite OG Event to avoid potential queues and connection issues.
What Does This Mean for Fortnite OG Season 9?
At the time of writing, Epic Games has not confirmed exactly what today’s Fortnite OG Event will include.
However, because the event uses the Unvaulting name, many players are expecting references to classic Fortnite items, locations, and Chapter 1 Season 9 content.
Players are already speculating about:
- Neo Tilted
- Mega Mall
- Slipstreams
- Mecha Team Leader
- The Final Showdown
- Classic vaulted weapons
Whether any of these appear remains to be seen.
What Is the Fortnite Unvaulting Event?
The Fortnite Unvaulting Event is a special live event originally introduced during Chapter 1 Season 8 that allowed players to vote for a vaulted item to return to Fortnite. The event is remembered for the return of the Drum Gun, the destruction of Tilted Towers and Retail Row, and the Arcana Glider compensation that followed server issues.
For more coverage, check out our Fortnite OG Event Start Time, Fortnite OG Event Countdown, and Fortnite OG Season 9: Everything That Could Return guides.
