Fortnite Ballistic Is Now Available in Early Access
The new 5v5 game mode takes Fortnite’s action into the first-person.
Posted 12 hours ago
Fortnite’s newest game mode, Ballistic, is now available in Early Access.
Described as “an adrenaline-filled, round-based 5v5 competitive game mode where strategy, tactical teamwork, and individual prowess are essential for victory,” Ballistic features first-person gameplay, which is a huge change from Fortnite’s traditional over-the-shoulder perspective.
During each Ballistic round, players are split into two teams: Attackers and Defenders. Attackers are challenged to plan a Rift Point Device at one of two sites on the map, while Defenders are challenged to prevent the device from being planted and detonated.
Each player starts the match with a pistol and 800 Credits, which can be spent on items and weapons at the beginning of each round. Credits can be earned during rounds by eliminating other players and planting the Rift Point Device.
In addition to collecting traditional weapons, like submachine guns and shotguns, players also have access to special tools called Flex Gadgets, like a proximity mine, bubble shield, and impulse grenade. At the beginning of a Ballistic match, players will select one of the five available gadgets that only they will be able to use throughout the entire match, adding some strategy to the game’s planning phase.
There’s no building component in Ballistic, and each player only has a single life. If the Rift Point Device detonates, the attackers win. Or, if an entire team is wiped out, the other team wins.
After six rounds, team roles will be reversed, allowing the attackers to become the defenders, and vice versa. The first team to win a total of seven rounds wins the match.
As an Early Access release, Ballistic will offer a limited feature set that will expand over time. This includes a single map – Skyline 10 – and a limited number of weapons and items that can be accessed across ranked and unranked matches. Additional features, including maps and weapons, will be added to the Ballistic experience going forward.
In addition to launching Fortnite Ballistic, Epic also announced first-person camera support is now available for user-created content, allowing players to create and share their own first-person Fortnite islands.
It’s been a big week for Fortnite, as developer Epic announced a name change for Lego Fortnite (now called Lego Fortnite Odyssey) and a new standalone experience in the Lego Fortnite universe: Lego Fortnite Brick Life.