Like most of the video game industry, Fortnite decided to take a breather last week. Amid widespread protests in both the US and abroad over the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, Epic Games decided to step back and let more important voices take the floor for a moment, pushing back the start date for the third time. The first two delays were presumably technical, but this one was something else. And unlike many other companies, Epic announced a new start date along with the delay.

So after two delays, Fortnite Chapter 2, Season 2 will end on Wednesday, June 17. Chapter 2, Season 3, will also begin on Wednesday, June 17.

Epic also delayed “The Device”, the live event set to kick the events leading to the next season in motion. That will now happen n Monday, June 15.

At this point I think we can say with some confidence that the event and season will actually hit those dates. But I feel like I can’t really give those dates without saying that another delay is possible. The protests continue, and the situation remains fluid. At a certain point these companies will wind up just going for it and launching things, but we are not in a moment when the future is easy to predict.

At least in the real world. In Fortnite it’s pretty easy: overwhelming evidence suggests that Season 3 will feature a water theme, likely because The Device flooded interior parts of the map and created an archipelago-like situation that will provide for some different gameplay opportunities. We’ve already got boats, but expect more. Underwater swimming is likely as well, which raises the possibility of an underwater POI or at the very least treasure chests. I would be pretty surprised if we didn’t wind up with a submarine vehicle, as well.

It raises all sorts of questions about what combat and building look like underwater, but I like this tack regardless. Season 2 made some big shifts in what it was like to play the game with the spy bases, henchmen and boss weapons, and Season 3 looks like it will also make an impact on moment-to-moment gameplay in big ways.