Fortnite lagging recently? Here's a fix.

A new Fortnite update can mean a few things: A brand new season, an annual event like Fortnightmares or Winterfest, or even new additions to the game's map.

Unfortunately, it could also mean new bugs or glitches.

After the latest update, I found myself experiencing a brand-new bug that made the game lag to the point where it was unplayable. It would seemingly hit at the most random times during a Battle Royale. It wasn't an internet issue as my connection was fine. It wasn't a bluetooth issue as I've been there with wireless controller bugs so I went ahead and bought a wired controller long ago and have mostly been glitch free since then.

However, this new bug which results in FPS (frames per second) dropping to ridiculously low levels at crucial points during a game, does appear to be controller-related even if you have a wired setup. It also seems that this issue may not be one of Fortnite's doing. The culprit appears to be Microsoft!

Either way, judging by some of the reactions online, this is a bug that's plaguing quite a few Fortnite players. Here's the fix.

Fix Fortnite dropped FPS issue

I discovered that quickly unplugging the controller and then plugging the USB-C cable back in would temporarily fix the issue. However, minutes later the FPS would drop again. Plus, unplugging your controller multiple times during a game isn't an ideal solution when a rival squad suddenly shows up and you're waiting for the controller to turn back on.

But, then I came across a Reddit thread from a few weeks ago with a comment from user u/0slambam0 that completely solved the problem for myself and everyone else in the thread. Choosing to delete programs sometimes carries usability risks, so people should make their own decision before trying a workaround solve. However, if you want to try it, here's how it's done.

1. First, go to your Windows Search Bar, type in "Add or remove programs," and choose that option.

2. A new window will open up with a list of programs installed on your PC under "Apps & Features." In the search bar, type in "Microsoft GameInput."

3. Some users will see one Microsoft GameInput listed. Others will see it listed two separate times. Regardless of how many you see, click them, and then click Uninstall.

4. After uninstalling Microsoft GameInput, unplug your controller and plug it back in.

5. That's it. The issue should be fixed. No more controller-related lagging issues! No more dropped frames!

It appears this may be strictly a Windows 10 issue. The latest Microsoft GameInput update that you need to uninstall to fix the issue appears to have been installed in September, so it could be a glitch related to Microsoft's push to get users to upgrade to Windows 11. 

However, with roughly half of all PC users still using Windows 10, there's likely a lot of Fortnite games dealing with this, so here's the solution until you finally give in and update your PC to the latest operating system.