Fortnite Reload Ranked could be the thing to massively expand this game mode. What do we know about a competitive game mode?
Fortnite Reload is the latest mode to come to Battle Royale and its proven to be a hit. While other additions added different ways to play, Reload has been a flashback to Fortnite’s glory days. It’s proven particularly popular with the more hardcore layer base too.
Since this game mode appeals so much to players more focused on gunplay and competitive Fortnite, there’s a lot of demand for a more serious version of the game. A Fortnite Reload competitive mode like Ranked or Arena. It’s already gotten a handful of tests for tournaments.
With Epic testing the waters for a dedicated competitive for Fortnite Reload, what about a Ranked mode? An equivalent to Battle Royale Ranked, where you can go against those at a similar skill level?
According to recent leaks, it might be closer than we think. This is what we know about Fortnite Reload Ranked and how it’ll work.
Fortnite Reload Ranked Mode
Fortnite Reload Ranked mode has been mentioned in some leaks as an upcoming mode. This isn’t confirmed yet, but it looks likely to be coming eventually.
Does Fortnite Reload need a Ranked mode? It wouldn’t go amiss.
The game mode has a whole lot of serious players. Your average reload game is a lot sweaty than Battle Royale. There are no wacky Mythic powers, just solid Reload guns. Gameplay is much more linked to Fortnite’s core mechanics on show in esports.
Well, there are some Fortnite Reload Mythics. But they’re a minor part of gameplay compared to the crossover item-dominated Battle Royale. Goldfish aside, Reload focuses on the actual shooter and building parts of Fortnite.
A Fortnite Reload Ranked mode might really prove quite popular. As long as it doesn’t cut down the queue times too much by splitting the player base.
How Would Fortnite Reload Competitive Work?
The Fortnite Reload Ranked mode isn’t official yet, so it’s mainly guesswork. However, given the other Ranked modes it’s easy to see how it would work.
Each player would get given a rank depending on their performance. Judged through metrics like kills, placement, and in Reload likely their deaths too.
Performing better would let you level up in Ranks. Doing badly would move you down. As you move, you’ll face increasingly stronger enemies so you’re always challenging yourself to do better.
In a game mode as sweaty as Reload, it might be a nice way to play. The pubs would still be there if you wanted a casual game, but Fortnite Ranked Reload could give players an outlet to try and improve in a measurable way.
Scoring and Matchmaking
The one big change for Fortnite Reload is the central mechanic of reloading players. How will this factor into the scoring for a potential Fortnite Reload Ranked?
We can probably expect scoring to be similar to Battle Royal in terms of placement and kills. Both things are still worth rewarding, even with the different structure of a Fortnite Reload competitive game.
Reloads might also factor in though. Getting a low death count should be rewarded. However, not giving other players points for elims might already achieve this. We could see a point deducted for Reloads, or not feeding enemy players’ points could be its own reward.
Feeding only really comes up in Fortnite esports when players are suspected of foul play, since placement is so important players value their lives. That whole survival over anything meta could be different here.
However, the early Fortnite Reload tournaments have already proven players will do anything to get placement points. The game has had an absurdly harsh storm sickness added to combat storm camping already.
We won’t know about scoring until we get closer to some kind of release for the mode. However, we can expect it to be similar to normal Ranked scoring.
Season 0
One major part of the leaks for Fortnite Reload Ranked is how it’ll start. The game will begin in Season 0. Just like normal Fortnite Ranked did. This is more of a testing period. One where Epic can get a feel for how their Ranked mode is working.
Season 0 could see big changes to how matchmaking, scoring, or other systems work before it launches in full. However, once it’s done, we’ll have a tuned-in Ranked that’s closer to accurately judging your skill in-game.
Fortnite Reload Ranked Modes
Reload is like normal Battle Royale, it has a lot of modes. We only have two playlists here, Squads and Duos. However, each of these has both Build and Zero Build mode.
Just like the rest of Fortnite, it’s mainly builds that gets competitive attention. However, Epic does persist in offering Zero Build Ranked mode. Even if the player count for Fortnite in this mode is shockingly low.
It seems they’ll be continuing this pattern with Fortnite Reload Ranked. With a Ranked playlist for Duos and Squads, for both Builds and Zero Builds. Given how few people play Ranked Zero though, this mode could be a bit tricky to get lobbies close to you in skill for Fortnite Reload competitive.
Are More Tournaments Coming?
A Ranked mode is great for measuring your skill in the game mode, but for a lot of players, it’s a precursor to something bigger, the Fortnite Tournaments.
We’ve already seen some initial tests for Fortnite Reload tournaments. A new one has been held again in Chapter 5 Season 4. These have been to evaluate performance.
It seems Fortnite Reload tournaments have proven popular enough to continue. We’ll likely see these expanded in coming seasons with their own Cash Cups to join the events for Battle Royale.
When Will Fortnite Reload Ranked Arrive?
That’s all we know (And can guess) about Fortnite Reload Ranked so far. But when will it actually be released in-game?
That we don’t know. However, the general timing of when the Fortnite season ends and OG begins again can give us some clues.
If OG is anything like last season, it’ll likely prove too popular to bother launching another competing mode at the same time. So, the rest of Chapter 5 would likely be the time, or we’ll be waiting until Chapter 6.
We could be looking at later this season for Fortnite Reload Ranked in an early trial. However, a launch for the mode part way into the first Chapter 6 season could work too.