Epic Games is gearing up to allow Fortnite creators to release content with first-person modes. To showcase the potential, Epic is introducing a tactical FPS shooter that appears to have gameplay similar to titles like Counter-Strike or Valorant.
The new mode, named “Ballistic,” is described as “an adrenaline-filled, round-based 5v5 competitive game mode where strategy, tactical teamwork, and individual prowess are essential for victory,” as per an Epic blog post. Players will be divided into two teams, one tasked with planting the bomb — or rather, the “Rift Point Device” — while the other team defends against it. In between rounds, players can purchase gear for the next round. After six rounds, teams will swap sides, and the first team to clinch seven rounds emerges as the winner.
This isn’t the first instance of Epic borrowing game concepts for Fortnite: its racing and festival modes draw inspiration from Psyonix’s Rocket League and Harmonix’s Rock Band (both studios are owned by Epic), the Lego survival mode shares similarities with Minecraft, and Epic even acknowledged that the now-defunct Impostors mode was influenced by Among Us. In fact, the game’s main battle royale mode originated as a spinoff following the success of PUBG.
Now, Epic aims to transform Fortnite into an experience more reminiscent of Roblox (another source of inspiration!), where players are encouraged to explore various experiences rather than sticking to one. Modes like Ballistic and Reload allow Epic to experiment with different ideas without altering the core battle royale gameplay. Furthermore, since purchased Fortnite items work across all modes, there is a financial incentive for Epic to introduce more experiences.
Ballistic is set to launch in early access on December 11th. Fortnite creators will also be able to release their own content with first-person modes on the same day.
