Fortnite Recycler weapon: Release date, stats, how the gun works and more

As with every other season of Fortnite, dataminers found unreleased assets in the game's files with the Season 6 update. Late in March 2021, following the v16.10 update, even more information was found about one new Fortnite weapon in particular: the Recycler. It was even spotted in the Chapter 2 Season 6 trailer, as you can see from the image above. Here's what we know so far about this unique Fortnite weapon, including the possible release date, the gun's stats, and how it will work in game.

Fortnite Recycler release date

Epic Games has not revealed the official release date for the new Fortnite Recycler weapon. However, since more information was found in the game's files since the v16.10 update, it appears the developer is definitely working on the new gun.

A look at the Recycler model (Picture: HYPEX)

If we had to take an educated guess for the release date window of the Recycler weapon in Fortnite, it would be on a Tuesday in April, so either 13th, 20th or 27th April, possibly in the next update which should be v16.20.

Fortnite Recycler stats

Dataminer iFireMonkey found the stats for the upcoming Recycler weapon, in both its Rare, Epic and Legendary rarities.

In all rarities, the Recycler has a reload speed of 2 seconds, and a magazine size of three which means you will be able to fire off three shots before reloading. Check out the stats below with all images via iFireMonkey.

Recycler stats (Rare)

Recycler stats (Epic)

Recycler stats (Legendary)

Keep in mind these stats can still change before the release date of the Recycler in Fortnite Season 6, as Epic could decide to either nerf or buff the weapon before it goes live.

How the Recycler works in Fortnite

The upcoming Recycler gun in Fortnite Season 6 will allow players to suck in and recycle some types of ammo or materials, then shoot out a "Junk Bomb" according to dataminer HYPEX.

An in-game tip found via a datamine by iFireMonkey reads: "Hold the secondary action button to vacuum environmental elements and refill your ammo!"

Junk Ammo (Picture: iFireMonkey)

Some text related to the Recycler gun includes: 

• Harvest Ammo
• <Player> Scrapped Themselves
• <Player> Scrapped <Player2> With a Recycler

If we are reading this correctly, it appears you will be able to recycle enemy players? Possibly when they are in a downed state...

So there you have it, everything we know so far about the Recycler gun coming to Fortnite sometime in the future.

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We will update you with more information as soon as Epic Games reveals the Recycler's release date, for example, where you will be able to find this Fortnite gun.