Fortnite Battle Royale players ride the Battle Bus before dropping onto the island.
The bus is a flying vehicle that carries players across the map at the start of each match. Each player chooses when to jump, allowing squads to target a named location, follow teammates, or land somewhere quieter to collect equipment. The Battle Bus is one of the game's most recognizable visual symbols, complete with a large balloon and a route that changes from match to match.
The mode launched in 2017 after Epic Games rapidly developed a battle-royale version of Fortnite. The bus concept reportedly grew from a school-bus idea discussed during early planning. It also helps distinguish Fortnite's opening from games in which players parachute from a plane or begin on the ground.
A common mix-up is calling it a “party bus” or “battle train.” Those may sound plausible, but the canonical in-game name is Battle Bus. Players do not fight while riding it; the actual match begins as they leave the vehicle and descend toward the island.