Competitive Fortnite players are upset with the current meta and state of the game.
Fortnite Chapter 3 arrived in December 2021 with an overwhelmingly positive reception from casual players worldwide. After spending an extended period in Chapter 2, Chapter 3 featured a new map, locations, weapons, skins, mechanics, and more. On the surface, Epic Games hit a home run. While casuals have thrived in the new season, the competitive scene is in complete and utter disarray.
Consistency is a concept that comes and goes in competitive Fortnite. The game’s central format would often change in the past, and certain overpowered items remained in the loot pool. Players ultimately had few options to overcome the issues. Competitors strive for a healthy ecosystem that creates a fair and balanced experience across the board.
Most players have reached a point of no return, with many taking to Twitter with their displeasure of the game’s current state. Eventually, Epic Games will have to address these concerns as many believe this to be the worst competitive season in history.
The Stinger SMG
Despite two nerfs since the season started, the consensus is that the Stinger SMG is still a significant issue. Players believe this weapon, which Epic Games introduced this season, strips Fortnite of what makes competitive play unique. It deals heavy damage and bolsters a fast fire rate, making it challenging to defend. Some players even opt not to carry a Shotgun due to the Stinger SMG’s power.
skilled game pic.twitter.com/8z35hSTbu0
— Falcon TaySon (@taysonFN) January 20, 2022
The clip above shows four-time FNCS winner Tai “TaySon” Starčič dying in less than a second during a tournament. Competitive players would like to see a considerable nerf that affects the fire rate or damage output. Otherwise, the game will continue to revolve around this potent weapon.
Spider-Man Mythic Gadget
Another item new this season – the Mythic Spider-Man Web-Shooters – added a versatile mobility option to Fortnite. It spawns with 80 uses and, like the Stinger SMG, is an absolute must to compete in high-level tournaments.
Despite its casual appeal, competitive players feel the item grants risk-free rotations but handicaps players that don’t prioritize the Mythic Web-Shooters. While it seems unlikely that Epic would remove such an essential item, players still have hope.
The World Champ Speaks
how is nothing changing with the competitive meta 🙃
— Bugha (@bugha) January 23, 2022
Fortnite World Cup 2019 Champion and two-time Fortnite Champion Series (FNCS) winner — Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf — questioned why Epic Games has not acted on the problematic meta. He took to Twitter, stating, “how is nothing changing with the competitive meta.”
Bugha followed up, saying that he figured the developers would have fixed the issues by now, but that’s not that case. The World Champion speaks echoes the same feelings other
Well-known players such as Rocco “Saf” Morales and Karim “Airwaks” Benghalia have joined a frighteningly long list of those who chose to walk away from Fortnite. It’s well within reason that more could follow if changes don’t occur sooner rather than later.
So, is Chapter 3 Season 1 the worst meta in history? The answer is more than likely no. It seems players have short memories in this regard. Season X and early Chapter 2 seasons were notorious for containing items not fit for tournaments. Still, it’s challenging to convince those that play the game eight hours per day otherwise.
The first FNCS of 2022 is less than one month away, and the competitive scene collectively desires improvement. We’ll have to see how Epic handles the feedback.