As Fortnite v24.40 goes live soon, it brings with it a significant change: the removal of the Trios team size in both Battle Royale and Zero Build modes. This unexpected move likely implies the mode is lacking in popularity and signals a shift in focus towards the introduction of a Ranked mode.
Although the Trios mode’s discontinuation may disappoint several players, there’s potential for its return in a different form, especially if the player community voices a demand for it. Epic Games has been responsive to player feedback in the past, rectifying changes deemed too unpopular.
Fortnite v24.40 is introducing a Ranked option for both Battle Royale and Zero Build. This new feature allows players to progress through a variety of ranks, including Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Elite, Champion, and Unreal. Each rank, except for Elite, Champion, and Unreal, consists of three sub-ranks. Players must ascend through these levels to reach the next primary rank. Upon reaching the highest rank, Unreal, players will be assigned a number reflecting their global standing among Unreal players, enabling them to compete with the best players worldwide.
The introduction of Ranked coincides with the commencement of Ranked Season Zero, which will last until the end of Battle Royale Chapter 4 Season 3. This period will provide Epic Games with an opportunity to address any issues or concerns arising from the new feature while simultaneously working on improvements and additional features for subsequent Ranked seasons.
Players’ initial ranks in Season Zero will be determined based on their past match performance, as well as their performance in their first Ranked Battle Royale and Ranked Zero Build match. The game’s matchmaking system will match players based on these ranks, ensuring they face opponents of similar skill levels.
The introduction of Ranked play also brings some changes to the gameplay. Material caps will be reduced from 999 to 500, harvesting rates will slightly increase, and players will drop 50 of each material upon elimination. These changes are aimed at refining the player experience in Ranked matches.
Ranked play will be available to both new and veteran players, although new players will need to complete a specific quest (Outlast 500 opponents) to access the Ranked option. Participating in Ranked matches also provides players with the opportunity to unlock seasonal cosmetic rewards through Ranked Urgent Quests.
One noteworthy consequence of introducing Ranked play is the discontinuation of the Arena mode. The remaining tournaments for Battle Royale Chapter 4 Season 2 will not require a rank for eligibility, with the exception of the Console Champions Cup, which requires players to reach the Platinum I rank or higher in Ranked Battle Royale to compete.
In future Battle Royale seasons, players’ ranks will be one of the factors determining their eligibility for Epic-hosted tournaments. This includes tournaments for cosmetic prizes, like the Icon Series Cups, and tournaments for cash prizes, such as the FNCS competitions. The specific rank requirements for each tournament will be outlined in the tournament’s official rules.
With these changes, Fortnite v24.40 brings a new era of competitive play to the game, despite the vaulting of the Trios mode. It remains to be seen how these changes will shape the Fortnite landscape in the long run.
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