For competitive Fortnite players, reviewing replays of past matches can be an invaluable tool to analyze gameplay and improve skills. However, Fortnite’s replay system has the limitation that replays become “out of date” after a major game update. Out of date replays cannot be viewed within the game client once the game has updated.
There are a few reasons why players may still want to view these old replays, despite this limitation:
- To analyze a tournament match or memorable win that occurred before the latest update
- To watch a replay that showcases gameplay mechanics that have since changed
- For content creators, to produce videos using footage from past patches
While out of date replays cannot be directly loaded, there are methods to still view them by using the old game version or third party tools. This guide will explain the options to access and view Fortnite replays from previous game versions.
Prerequisites
To view and play Fortnite replays, you’ll first need to have Fortnite installed on your device and an Epic Games account. Fortnite is free to download on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices.
Once you have the game installed, you’ll need to create an Epic Games account if you don’t already have one. This account allows you to access Fortnite and its features across all platforms. When logged into your Epic Games account while playing Fortnite, your replays will be saved and associated with that account.
Having Fortnite ready to launch and an Epic Games account are the prerequisites to utilize the replay system in Fortnite. As long as you meet these requirements, you’ll be able to view and play past matches.
Locating Replays
Old Fortnite replays are stored on Epic Games’ servers, not locally on your PC or console. This means you don’t have to worry about replays taking up space on your hard drive. Replays are saved for a certain period of time determined by Epic Games – usually around 30 days.
On PC, replays can be accessed through the Replay mode in the Fortnite lobby. On console, replays are accessible from the Career tab. However, only more recent replays will be available. Older replays are removed from the servers after the retention period set by Epic Games.
So if you’re trying to view an old replay from weeks or months ago, it likely won’t be available through the in-game UI anymore. The replay would have been deleted from Epic’s servers. But there are a couple potential workarounds covered later in this guide.
Source: https://theglobalgaming.com/fortnite/how-to-replay-games
Viewing on PC
Here is a step-by-step guide to launching and watching old replays on a PC:
- Open the Epic Games Launcher and launch Fortnite.
- Select the ‘Career’ tab in the lobby.
- Click on the ‘Replays’ option.
- Locate and select the replay file you want to watch. Replay files are named by date.
- Click on the ‘Play’ button to start the replay.
- Use the playback controls to pause, rewind, fast forward, or skip around the replay as needed.
- When finished, select ‘Return to Lobby’ to exit the replay.
However, if the replay is from a previous game update it may fail to load and give an error that the replay is out of date. Unfortunately, there is no way to watch replays from past updates after Fortnite has been updated.
Viewing on Console
Viewing old Fortnite replays on Xbox or PlayStation requires a few extra steps compared to PC. Here is a step-by-step guide:
- Open Fortnite on your console and navigate to the ‘Career’ tab.
- Select the ‘Replays’ option. This will show a list of saved replays.
- Find the old replay you want to watch. The replay may show an alert icon that it is from a previous game version.
- Press the menu button on your controller when highlighting the replay. Select ‘Version’ to pick which game version to watch it on.
- Choose the game version closest to when the replay was originally recorded. This allows you to play the replay without issues.
- Press the play button to launch the replay just like any other. You can now view the old match.
This method allows console players to still view outdated Fortnite replays as long as they select the proper game version. However, very old replays may fail to load if they cannot find a compatible game version. Overall though, selecting the closest version to the replay’s original recording date will allow most outdated replays to be viewed again.
Troubleshooting
There are a few common issues that can prevent you from viewing outdated Fortnite replays. Here are some troubleshooting tips:
If you get an “unknown error” while trying to view the replay, this typically means the replay file is too old and no longer compatible with the current version of Fortnite. Unfortunately, there is no way to get these replays to work again. You’ll need to record new replays to view past matches.
On console, replays from past seasons or major updates often won’t load. Try moving the replay file to a USB drive or external hard drive, then view it from there. This trick sometimes works to load outdated console replays. Just be sure not to refresh the file listing or you’ll lose access.
If your replays suddenly stopped working after a Fortnite update, wait a day or two for Epic to release a hotfix. Updates sometimes break replay viewing temporarily. Check the Fortnite Status Twitter account for updates.
As a last resort, search for Fortnite replay viewer apps made by third parties. Some of these can load replay files that the game can no longer read. However quality and reliability varies significantly.
Updates Breaking Replays
One of the biggest issues with trying to view old Fortnite replays is that game updates can often break replay compatibility. When Epic Games releases a new patch or season, it can change game mechanics, graphics, and other elements that make your old replays unusable.
According to Epic’s support article Unable to play Fortnite replays from a previous update, “After a new update, the old replays will no longer be valid, unless they were saved.”
To avoid losing access to your replays after an update, make sure to save any replays you want to keep. On PC, you can save a replay by going to the Replay Browser, right-clicking on the replay, and selecting “Show in Folder.” This will reveal the file location so you can make a copy. On console, select the replay and choose “Rename” to save it.
Unfortunately, there is no way to view unsaved replays from a previous game version after an update. So make sure to save any memorable or important matches before a new patch if you want to be able to watch them later.
Alternatives
If you are unable to view an old replay in Fortnite for any reason, there are some alternative options to still view the gameplay. Here are a few other ways to watch your old matches:
Gameplay Recordings – Many players record their gameplay while playing matches in Fortnite. You can go back and watch these recordings to view old matches. This works as an alternative if the replay file is not accessible for some reason.
Watch Streams – If you streamed your gameplay on platforms like Twitch or YouTube, you can go back and watch the video archive of your stream. Stream archives save your full matches and act as a way to watch old games.
Ask Friends – If you played matches with friends, you can ask them if they have a replay or recording of the match. Your teammates may have captured the same game from their perspective.
Replay Files – You can try to locate the replay file on your PC or console and convert it to a video file using third-party tools. This allows you to get a video from the replay if you can access the file itself.
Game Stats – Sites like FortniteTracker provide stats and summaries of your previous matches. While not a full replay, you can see details like eliminations, placements, etc. to get a sense of how the match went.
The key is finding other recordings or information about the match if the replay itself is inaccessible or expired. With gameplay captures, streams, stats or asking friends, you still have a chance to see how your old matches played out.
Summary
Recap the key steps to view outdated replays:
1. Locate your replay files, which are saved locally on your PC/console or in the cloud if you have that enabled.
2. Identify replays that are marked “outdated” or no longer compatible with the current Fortnite version.
3. Download and install an unofficial third party replay viewer that supports outdated replays, such as Reflex or Replay Royale.
4. Open the outdated replay file in the third party replay viewer.
5. Adjust viewer settings as needed to optimize the viewing experience.
6. Use playback controls to view the replay footage and analyze your previous gameplay.
While official Fortnite replay viewing only works for recent matches on the current game version, third party tools allow you to still benefit from analyzing your past matches no matter when they took place.
Related Resources
Official Epic Games help articles and forums are great places to find more information about Fortnite replays.
Epic has a helpful article explaining why old replays may not work anymore after a Fortnite update: Unable to play Fortnite replays from a previous update
The Epic Games developer documentation provides details on how the replay system works in Fortnite Creative mode: How to Use the Replays Feature
The Epic Games forums are another great place to ask questions and get help with Fortnite replays. Experienced players often provide tips and tricks for working with replays there.