Since its early entry launch on December 11, 2024, Fortnite Ballistic, Epic Games’ daring foray into the 5v5 tactical first-person shooter style, has established a particular area of interest throughout the Fortnite universe. Debuting with Chapter 6 Season 1, this mode takes cues from iconic shooters equivalent to Counter-Strike and Valorant, setting the stage for an intense bomb-planting duel between two groups on the tightly designed Skyline 10 map.
Right out of the gate, Ballistic exploded onto the scene, momentarily eclipsing the battle royale mode with a powerful 259,000 concurrent gamers simply hours after its launch. This surge was pushed by its revolutionary first-person perspective and the engaging attract of Fortnite’s trademark type. Even although its participant base has discovered a brand new equilibrium—non-ranked hitting a excessive of over 300,000 and ranked reaching 169,000—it continues to face out as an attractive choice for avid gamers looking for strategic complexity slightly than the frenetic vitality of battle royale. The mode should be a bit tough across the edges attributable to its early entry standing, however Epic’s dedication to listening to group suggestions has helped it preserve its momentum.
Fortnite has now introduced its v34.20 replace on March 25, 2025, and Ballistic is ready to endure a significant transformation. This patch arrives with a promise to reinforce gameplay via weapon stability changes, financial tweaks, and varied quality-of-life enhancements. Here’s every little thing new within the recreation mode.
Fortnite Ballistic 34.20 replace patch notes
New Hammer Fall map
Epic Games
This replace consists of weapon stability modifications, financial system changes, and a big variety of fixes. But first, we now have a sneak preview of Ballistic’s first new map since launch: Hammer Fall! Rising from the waters beneath, the spires and tight lanes of Hammer Fall carry a sure medieval taste to the desk. The citadel’s verticality units it aside from Skyline 10, and also you’ll discover there are many comfy cowl, angles to carry, and corners to play.
Hammer Fall will probably be a shell map at first. As Epic shared of their final replace, this implies the map will arrive in Ballistic with out environmental artwork. This will enable Epic to make modifications to the map structure rapidly based mostly on participant suggestions. Those environmental particulars and ending touches will come later, as soon as we’ve all had an opportunity to get our arms on it and actually take a look at how its video games circulation and play out. Get able to get the (hammer) drop on opponents — Hammer Fall will launch on April 8 with v34.30!
Balance Changes and Economy Adjustments
Epic Games
v34.20 consists of the next stability modifications for the Hammer Pump Shotgun, Frenzy Auto Shotgun, Thunder Burst SMG, and Striker AR, alongside changes to the in-match financial system.
Weapon Balance Changes
Hammer Pump Shotgun
Fire fee barely elevated
Point-blank injury considerably elevated
Frenzy Auto Shotgun
Point-blank injury elevated
Mid-range injury elevated
Thunder Burst SMG
Damage barely elevated
Fire fee barely elevated
Striker AR
Reduced the vary at which injury falloff begins
Economy Adjustments
Reaper Sniper Rifle value diminished from 4700 to 4500 Credits.
Striker AR value elevated from 2500 to 2700 Credits.
Nemesis AR value elevated from 2500 to 2700 Credits.
Drum Gun value diminished from 3500 to 3200 Credits.
Early Access Dev updates
About two weeks in the past, we requested to your suggestions on a variety of subjects from current weapons and devices to mode timings. So far, in abstract, you’re asking us for…
New maps, weapons, and devices
Additional starter pistol choices
Better methods to cope with AFK gamers in a match
New or extra customization choices for HUD settings
More environment friendly stock administration
We have new maps, weapons, and devices coming quickly — bringing extra of those to the sport is a high precedence for the group. In the longer term, new weapons added to Ballistic will embody pistols out there for buy within the beginning spherical.
Another one of many group’s highest priorities proper now could be addressing AFK gamers in matches, and we’ll have extra to share about this quickly. In the meantime, we are able to affirm that the choice to give up is at the moment in growth and can possible come to Ballistic in early summer time.
We’ve talked collectively as a group about extra HUD customization choices for Ballistic, equivalent to crosshair choices, in addition to methods we’d enhance in-game stock administration. We are exploring updates in these areas however don’t have concrete plans to share proper now. We can share that we’re planning a change that can higher present who in your group has the Rift Point Device and can proceed to work on UI/UX enhancements like this.
Our different main precedence is dialing within the first-person really feel and bettering the core of how the sport handles first-person weapons, which will probably be mirrored within the “Improvements and Fixes” part of every of those weblog posts. It’s necessary that we scale back any hitches that make Ballistic lower than a seamless first-person expertise.
You can hold sharing your ideas with us by finishing an in-game post-match survey, or by posting on the Fortnite Battle Royale subreddit (which we’re utilizing for Ballistic as nicely) and the English Fortnite Discord. As Ballistic continues to develop in Early Access, we’ll proceed to depend on you to assist us form the general expertise. Right now, we’re particularly searching for suggestions on:
Existing weapons
Existing devices
Credit financial system
In our subsequent weblog publish, which will probably be printed on April 8, we’ll focus on the suggestions we obtained and the way we plan to handle it.
Improvements and Fixes
Epic Games
Gameplay
The Bubble Shield will now collapse if it accumulates greater than 600 injury earlier than the six-second time restrict.
The Recon Grenade can now be destroyed.
Enemy Recon Grenades now pulse pink.
The Smoke Grenade now deploys smoke extra rapidly.
Fixed a problem the place gamers weren’t notified when tagged by a Recon Grenade.
Fixed a problem the place gamers have been unable to mantle except wanting straight on the ledge they have been making an attempt to mantle.
Fixed a problem the place the Rift Point Device may typically not be picked up or planted after the primary spherical.
Fixed a problem the place gamers have been unable to leap via the window of Skyline 10’s Sushi Bar if standing too near the wall.
Fixed a problem on consoles the place gamers have been typically unable to pick out devices.
Visual Issues
Fixed a problem the place crouching and transferring backwards made gamers clip into the digital camera.
Fixed a problem the place gamers would clip into the digital camera when touchdown from a fall whereas aiming down sights with sure weapons.
Fixed a problem the place weapon scopes appeared to vanish when sliding.
Fixed a problem the place the digital camera jittered after mantling an object.
Fixed a problem the place the Drum Gun’s purpose down sights animation was too quick.
Fixed a problem the place attackers appeared on the defender’s spawn level earlier than spawning on the appropriate spawn level.
Fixed a problem the place the textual content chat immediate didn’t present the unread indicator.
Fixed a problem the place the Rift Point Device’s planting animation was not displayed for spectators observing the system planter.
Fixed a problem that displayed teammates’ Health as 0 when spectating.
Other Issues
Fixed a problem the place gamers have been typically unable to shut the map display.
Fixed a problem the place gamers have been capable of stroll and shoot in the course of the victory display.
Fixed a problem with the “Play Matches” Quest in order that it correctly progresses after taking part in two matches of Ranked Ballistic.
Fixed a problem the place the countdown timer typically ended after two seconds as a substitute of 25 seconds in the course of the Buy Phase.
Fixed a problem within the Ballistic Lobby the place social gathering leaders remained in a non-ready state regardless of clicking the “Ready” button if any of the social gathering members have been in a non-ready state.
Fixed a problem the place a participant’s rank development typically didn’t transfer after profitable a Ranked match.
Made fixes geared toward lowering crashes.
Fixed a problem on cell the place a second “Scoreboard” button appeared on the display.
The new Fortnite Ballistic Update arrives on April 8, however for those who’re searching for one thing new, take a look at the brand new OG Season 3 replace that brings again dwell occasions.