Battle royale games like Players Unknown BattleGrounds (PUBG) have steadily declined over the past few years, but Fortnite has managed to stay afloat, with Epic Games keeping things fresh by introducing new maps, themes and game modes almost every season.
As it turns out, the gaming studio has announced a new game mode that looks similar to Counter-Strike and Valorant. In a blog post, Epic Games unveiled Ballistics, a 5v5 tactical competitive game mode where players are “sorted into two teams at the start of the game: attackers and defenders.”
Similar to Counter-Strike, attackers are given a “reality-tearing Rift Point Device” akaa, bomb any two sites on the map, while the defenders must defend the sites and prevent them from planting the “Rift Point Device”. or explosion.
Epic says the Rift Point device will automatically detonate 45 seconds after it’s planted, giving players a chance to move a bit further from the blast site to protect themselves. At the start of each match, players from both teams have the option to choose one of five ‘Flex Gadgets’, which only they can purchase and use. These include Proximity Mine, Bubble Shield, Recon Grenade, Frag Grenade and Impulse Grenade.
After six rounds, players have to switch sides, meaning the defenders will now be the attackers. Epic Games has said that the team that wins a total of 7 rounds will be the winner. At the start of the game, all players will be given a ‘Ranger Pistol’ and 800 credits. However, players can earn more credits by eliminating other players or planting equipment.
If you survive one round, all your gear and shields will be carried over to the next, but any consumables will be automatically removed. Players also have the option of dropping weapons, smoke grenades and flashbangs for teammates or picking weapons from eliminated players.
Here’s what the Sky 10 map looks like. (Image source: Epic Games)
For those wondering, all your existing Fortnite outfits, back blings, wraps, kicks, sprays and more will be available in the new game mode as well. Fortnite’s new game mode offers a ranked and unranked experience, with ranked matches giving you a three-minute grace period to reconnect if you run into any issues. Also, if you leave in the middle of a ranked match, a penalty will apply that prevents players from joining the game for a “”period of time”.
Epic Games says Ballistics will be available on all platforms and Fortnite supported regions starting December 11th. Initially, the game mode will have a single map called Skyline 10, but the developers will add more maps in the future.