Gulag-Style Respawn Mode in Fortnite? Restarter Island Rumors Explained

Fortnite Chapter 7 is gearing up for a major twist, as new leaks suggest a Gulag-style second-chance system could soon shake up how players return to the island.

Restarter Island: Fortnite’s Answer to Warzone’s Gulag Reportedly Coming Soon | Image: Epic Games via Gaming Amigos

Chapter 7 already launched with a fresh West Coast-themed map, 13 new POIs, and a ton of gameplay additions—drivable Reboot Vans, DBNO movement upgrades, Self-Revives, surfing, and more. It honestly feels like Epic wants players to rethink every moment of the match. But just as we were all still wrapping our heads around these features, several well-known leakers dropped something even bigger: Fortnite might be getting its own Gulag.

According to trusted Fortnite leakers like ShiinaBR and Blortzen, Epic Games is working on a new revival system called “Restarter Island.” And if you’re familiar with Call of Duty: Warzone, the inspiration is impossible to miss. Warzone popularized the Gulag during the early pandemic era, giving eliminated players a 1v1 duel for a chance to redeploy. It became a cultural moment—you probably remember the “1v1 me in the Gulag” memes floating all over social media back then.

Fortnite, however, isn’t just copying the idea. The leaks suggest Restarter Island will replace the traditional duel with a rotation of five minigames, randomly selected for the two players fighting for their return ticket. As per reports from laekers, the expected lineup includes:

• 1v1 Gunfight with three preset weapons

• Rock, Paper, Scissors (best of three)

• Shockwave Deathmatch, where you blast opponents off a platform

• Death Race featuring baseball bats

• A simple Sprint Race

So instead of a gritty prison block, Fortnite’s second-chance arena sounds more like a chaotic underground game show. Speaking of underground—leaked images show what looks like an underwater bunker with its own spectator stands, letting eliminated players watch upcoming matchups. It mirrors Warzone’s spectator balcony but with Fortnite’s more playful twist.

Leaker Blortzen mentioned that the current Restarter Island maps appear to be in a “really, really early state,” which might mean the feature is still under heavy development or potentially scrapped. Shiina, on the other hand, seems confident enough to call it “coming soon.” So we’re definitely seeing mixed signals, but the idea feels too polished to ignore.

What’s interesting here is how this might interact with Fortnite’s existing reboot system. While some fans feel Reboot Vans already fill the revival role, Restarter Island could become a lifesaver for solo players or squads who get wiped before teammates can reach a van. Epic has borrowed ideas before—Apex Legends’ ping system and respawn mechanics influenced Fortnite in the past—and these evolutions have generally pushed the genre forward.

For now, there’s no official release date, but it seems clear that Epic is experimenting with ways to keep Fortnite competitive as it approaches its tenth year.