Fortnite First Person Mode: What is Fortnite Ballistic?

Fortnite Ballistic - Fortnite First Person Mode
(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite First Person Mode has finally been officially confirmed, and we now know it will be called Fortnite Ballistic. Rumors about it have been floating around since files relating to a first person mode were found in an update all the way back in January 2023, though amazingly it has taken almost two years for us to get to this stage since then. While there have been some individual weapons that allowed you to aim down sights and briefly enter first person mode in the battle royale, Ballistic represents a complete game change in Fortnite with players competing in full FPS combat to either place a rift bomb or eliminate the opposing squad. Here's what we know so far about the new first person mode Fortnite Ballistic.

When will Fortnite First Person Mode be available?

Fortnite Ballistic launches in early access on December 11, 2024 and will initially feature both Ranked and Unranked modes. During this starting phase player feedback will be collected and adjustments made accordingly, with major updates planned for the future.

What do we know so far about Fortnite Ballistic?

Fortnite Ballistic - Fortnite First Person Mode

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Following the official announcement we have a reasonable amount of information about Fortnite Ballistic and how this first person mode will work. The initial game mode will be a competitive round-based 5v5 pitting attackers armed with a Rift Point Device against defenders trying to prevent them from planting and detonating it. There are no respawns, and each round ends when either a team is fully eliminated or the Rift Point Device explodes. Players swap sides and roles after six rounds, and the first team to win seven rounds in total will claim the victory.

Fortnite First Person Mode will initially just be set on one map, Skyline 10, and feature a starting set of weapons plus a few items. This will be adjusted over time based on player feedback, and major new updates are planned for the future to bring fresh maps, weapons, features, and more. Fortnite Ballistic can be played in Ranked and Unranked modes, and while leaving an Unranked match will backfill another player in your place, quitting a Ranked game will leave your team short while giving you a rank penalty and preventing you joining another match for an amount of time. Ranked matchmaking will be based on the average rank of the party, and this will be monitored over time to make any required adjustments.

That's what we know about Fortnite First Person Mode for now, so be sure to check out Ballistic when it launches in early access on December 11 to try it out for yourself.

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Iain Wilson
Guides Editor

Iain originally joined Future in 2012 to write guides for CVG, PSM3, and Xbox World, before moving on to join GamesRadar in 2013 as Guides Editor. His words have also appeared in OPM, OXM, PC Gamer, GamesMaster, and SFX. He is better known to many as ‘Mr Trophy’, due to his slightly unhealthy obsession with amassing intangible PlayStation silverware, and he now has over 750 Platinum pots weighing down the shelves of his virtual award cabinet. He does not care for Xbox Achievements.

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