Fortnite Finally Introduces a Trustworthy First-Person Mode, But It's Not Battle Royale

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Following years of speculation, Fortnite‘s eagerly-anticipated first-person mode is finally set to launch in just a few days with the release of Fortnite Ballistic on December 11. Fortnite Ballistic is not a battle royale mode; instead, it is a 5v5, Counter-Strike-style round-based shooter where one team aims to detonate a Rift Point Device bomb, while the opposing team tries to defuse it.

In Fortnite Ballistic, there are no respawns—rounds conclude when one entire team is wiped out or the Rift Point Device is either defused or detonated. Players will start each round with a pistol and some credits, which can be spent on acquiring weapons between rounds; each player also selects a gadget, such as bubble shields and proximity mines.

Fortnite's first official first-person mode launches December 11. — Fortnite’s first official first-person mode launches December 11.

Should you remain alive in a match, you can keep your items, and if you perish, you will need to collect new ones. Be advised that if you win a round by triggering the Rift Level Device, you might still face death from the explosion, which adds an intriguing twist for teams aiming to safeguard the explosive device from those wanting to deactivate it. The first team to secure seven rounds wins the entire match.

In its announcement regarding the mode, Myth designates Ballistic as “early access,” rather than a fully developed new mode. This aligns with the fact that Ballistic will only include a single map at launch, the city-themed Skyline 10.

Fortnite Ballistic will feature both ranked and unranked formats. In the ranked format, the game will not replace your team with new players if your companions leave—but if your game crashes or you lose connection, you will have a 3-minute grace period to reconnect, a provision that has never been available in an official mode before. Additionally, there will be leaver penalties in ranked Ballistic, which include a brief matchmaking ban.

Although it is a first-person mode, Fortnite Ballistic will support most of Fortnite’s cosmetics, including skins and emotes.