What is Fortnite Arenas?

One of the most popular game formats in Fortnite is getting an official mode, with Fortnite Arenas. This new mode was first unveiled at the launch of Chapter 7 Season 2 but details have been sparse. Now Epic has confirmed everything we need to know about Fortnite Arenas and how it’ll work.

This new mode is coming just after Epic shut down three other games. However, this one is catering to a pre-existing community in Fortnite. Rather than trying to create a CS GO clone or racing game, it’s a game that already dominated Fortnite creative. This is an official version of box fight games.

Epic has tried some 1v1 game modes before, but this one seems different. This is how Fortnite Arenas will work:

Fortnite Arenas key Details Announced

Fortnite Arenas is going to be a brand-new game mode coming to the game next week. it’s a game mode build around box fights. These are head-to-head game modes. Where players compete in a small arena to try and beat each other. It recreates the solo fight patterns that we see in competitive Fortnite games, but limited to just the fight.

The Fortnite Arenas mode is arranged in back-to-back fights. Once you get in a lobby, it’s a 16-player format. You go head-to-head in 1-v-1s or 2-v-2s. If you win, you go onto the next round. Once you beat 20 fights, you win.

Free Cosmetics

To get players to try out the new game mode, Epic has some free cosmetics up for grabs. It isn’t a free Fortnite skin, but a back bling and spray. you can unlock these for competing quests in the Fortnite Arenas mode. It might take a bit of work though, they’re probably designed to rack up play time for a new mode.

Showdown Leaderboard in Fortnite Arenas

The mode is also going to tie into the current season’s mechanic. The Showdown leaderboard isn’t just for BR anymore, it’ll now be linked to Arenas too.

This is a leaderboard where players rise as they win rivalries. With pries at the end of the week for those with the most time to grind. That’s normally in BR, but you can now invite people from the Showdown leaderboard to do this 1-v-1. It’s basically giving players a way to harass anyone they feel like being toxic to in a 1-v-1, so maybe revisit your privacy Fortnite settings if you just want to play the game casually.

Loadouts

The new Fortnite Arenas mode will have player spawn in with a loadout already set. The exact weapons will get mixed up in different rounds. The loadouts alternate.

Normal Fortnite is based around looting, but loadouts are going to give this game a faster pace. There should be our standard shotguns, but maybe ARs, and other wacky items too.

Gameplay like this will be familiar to a lot of players who spent time grinding in Creative. Most players either go for Fortnite XP maps or combat maps to work on their skills. This one will play similar to combat maps. Hopefully, with some better matchmaking though.

Maps

The new 1-V-1s will be played in dynamic maps. This means the backdrop will remain fairly standard, but the geography and objects in the map will change around. This will give games variety and some factors you can’t predict. These kinds of modes don’t really need too much visual variety for maps, but different shapes will help make rounds feel different each time.

Ranked and Unranked

As with a ton of different Fortnite modes, its getting a Ranked mode. Unlike LTMs though this one makes a bit more sense. This is a mode based around competitive gameplay, so grinding out Ranks actually has some rewards.

The big question with it is how well the matchmaking will function. The Battle Royale Fortnite Ranked has abandoned any attempts at skill or Ranked based matchmaking. Brand new players are in with Unreal. Hopefully, only needing 16 players will make this one a bit better balanced. You can probably expect to get jumped by a creative sweat for a little while in Ranked Fortnite Arenas though.

When Does Fortnite Arenas Release?

That’s everything that’s coming but when will it release? The mode is currently planned to be released later in the week. It’ll arrive on April 9th. This will likely be the date for the next Fortnite update too.

We’re expecting everything for the mode to drop at once. Both Ranked and Unranked, and the quests to unlock new items. However, we could see more updates down the line, potentially with different map or Fortnite weapons features.

Since the move is tied to the C7 S2 key mechanic it’ll probably get new weapons and changes all throughout the season. If it performs well, it could even see support past when the Fortnite season ends this time too.