The first update to Fortnite Chapter 3, Season 1 has landed. With it comes weapon balance changes, Battle Pass goodies (namely Super Styles) and more in preparation for Fortnite’s Winterfest.
Fortnite Update: December 23 Update: Super Level Styles
In Fortnite, the desire to stand out amongst other players is strong. That said, so is the ability to look like your favorite character. How does one strut their stuff as Spider-Man and also maintain a somewhat unique flare? Simple. Super Level Styles.
Super Level Styles are bonus Battle Pass unlocks that alter the look of specific Chapter 3, Season 1 skins. Most of them were already available to players who hit level 100 of the pass. This update adds more, allowing anyone past level 140 to unlock rarer variations. These include a Photo Negative, Scarlet Blackout, and Gilded Reality versions of characters like Shanta and Lt. John Llama. Even Spider-Man got some new threads
Fortnite Chapter 3, Season 1 Balance Changes
Several weapons have been tweaked since this season started. A hotfix went out last week to address certain issues. This update offers more fine tuning. The Ranger Assault Rifle sports increased accuracy and damage. The Stinger SMG and Hunter Bolt Action Sniper both got animation tweaks to better showcase how much ammo they have when you’re reloading. The Striker Pump Shotgun, on the other hand, had its accuracy and rate of fire buffed. The Auto Shotgun also got a small buff. You’ll now be able to draw the weapon quicker than before.
Not all of Fortnite’s Season 3 weapons were buffed. Not only was the MK-Seven Assault Rifle’s environmental damage decreased, it’ll be less accurate when fired from the hip. This shouldn’t be shocking to most players; the MK is an incredibly powerful weapon in the right hands and that’s before considering its accuracy when aiming down sights.
Going beyond Fortnite’s weapons, the Guzzle Juice item’s heal speed has been increased.
What's Different About Fortnite Chapter 3
Recent events in Fortnite have ushered in sweeping changes to its island map. Fans can not only expect to see altered versions of familiar places, but there will be new locations as well, including Spider-Man/Peter Parker’s own Daily Bugle.
Marvel’s iconic newspaper facility won’t be the only new area worth exploring, as The Sanctuary, The Seven’s secret base of operations, has been revealed as well.
Beyond new characters and map changes, Fortnite Chapter 3 adds new traversal mechanics. These include the ability to slide about in hopes of evading enemy fire or the new swinging mechanic that allows you to mimic Spidey’s movements.
Fortnite Chapter 3, Season 1 also introduces the biggest game-changing feature since Reboot Vans in Camps. These special locations will allow you and your squadmates to store items to be used in later matches. Not only that, it’ll also allow you heal up after taking damage.
Fans can expect new items and weapons scattered all over the island. If utilized well (and with a bit luck) they’ll be able to get multiple Victory Royales and potentially earn the new Victory Crown. This digital accolade will certainly encourage competitive play.
Fortnite: Chapter 3, Season 1 Battle Pass
It wouldn’t be a new season of Fortnite without a brand-new Battle Pass. This latest pass will offer a lot of the same – new skins, emotes, weapon wraps, etc. It also features the amazing Spider-Man. While those things are worth getting excited for, it’s Epic Games allowing players to continue earning Battle Pass XP outside of Battle Royale that’s really interesting.
Done by using the Accolade Device, Fortnite Creative Mode players can build XP gain into their created experiences. They won’t be able to set the amount, so it won't be easy for players to blast through all 100 levels. Instead, they can set XP award weight based on the number Accolade Devices they have and how frequent players are awarded.
Essentially, players won’t be able to manually type in how much XP they want their friends to earn. All of the math is done in the background in a way that keeps things balanced; players will be able to influence things based on the complexity of their created accolades but won’t be able to give out free XP.
Winterfest
This update comes with the usual bug fixes. What’s exciting is that these changes weren’t just to improve Fortnite but also to make way for this year’s Winterfest event. There’s been no word on what day it’ll launch, besides soon. One should expect new missions, seasonal items and more in the coming days though.
And that’s it for Fortnite’s latest update. Be sure to check back here for more Fortnite Chapter 3, Season 1 patch notes! Also, if you missed it or want to make sure you didn't miss a thing, read our breakdown of Fortnite Chapter 2's finale event and the introduction of The Rock as The Foundation.
Kenneth Seward Jr. is a freelance writer, editor, and illustrator who covers games, movies, and more. Follow him @kennyufg and on Twitch.