Fortnite Ballistic Test Grounds Explained

Introduction

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Fortnite Ballistic had a rocky start but has amassed a decent fan base since its release. Epic Games’ new take on the tactical shooter genre proved to be quite interesting, and now they are willing to expand it even more. Just like in any live service game, there are plans to add new guns, maps, gadgets, and so on. For that very reason, they have released the Ballistic Test Grounds. Here is everything you need to know about it.

What Is Ballistic Test Grounds

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Ballistic Test Grounds is an experimental mode for Ballistic where Epic Games tests out new content. This means new maps, weapons, and other content. Players can ‘beta test’ new ideas and concepts, and Epic Games can get feedback from actual players. This ensures that when something gets added to the main game, it doesn’t throw off the meta.

This does not mean that all changes to the live game are going to be perfectly balanced, of course. But having a ‘test component’ of a game has proven to be a great tool for avoiding game-breaking updates and releasing straight up overpowered (or underpowered) patches or additions.

Ballistic Test Grounds works exactly like a normal Ballistic game, but you can play with the new stuff. It’s a cool way to be part of the development of the actual game, as some of the Test Grounds patches and ideas might never make it to the main game.  

How To Play Ballistic Test Grounds

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You will find the Ballistic Test Grounds right where you find other modes in Fortnite. On the Play screen, just scroll down until you find Ballistic Test Grounds. Just look in Epic Games’ official playlist and you will find it easily. From there, just queue up for a match.

Ballistic Test Grounds have a lower player count, so finding a match can be hard in some regions like the ME or SEA. In this case, just switch to another server where you get decent ping, like Europe or NA, and you will find a match.

New Content in Ballistic Test Grounds

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As mentioned, Test Grounds exist to test out content for the main game. That means things will be shuffled out often. This usually happens when the main game gets a new season/rank reset. So, in practice, Test Grounds will have an ever-changing array of balance updates, new weapons, maps, and so on. To give you an idea of what you can expect, we’ll give you a list of things you can find in the Test Grounds at the time of writing:

New Maps

Storm Chase Cove: It’s a compact, tight-knit map that favors the attacker’s side. This means fast executes and aggressive map control will work well. However, the map also has its fair share of chokepoints which the defense could use to their advantage. Overall, it’s a fast-paced map, and you will see rounds go by quickly.

Hammer Fall: Hammer Fall is quite different from Storm Chase Cove. It’s a bigger map, and it rewards strategic play rather than aggressive pushes. You will need to play for map control, try out fakes, and fast rotations. It’s a balanced map for both sides, and the smarter team will win more rounds. It has a mix of elevations, open areas, and choke points, making it a well-rounded map..

Important to know is that these maps are ‘Shell maps’, meaning they don’t have texture and environmental art. The maps look like they have been taken straight out of development. The goal here is to test the layout of the map rather than how good it looks. Don’t expect eye-candy when queuing up.

New Weapons

Sovereign Sniper: Ballistic has been missing a cheaper Sniper for a while now, but it’s now here. The Sovereign Sniper is a cheaper and weaker alternative to the Reaper. It takes two body shots or one headshot to take down an enemy. It’s like the Scout from CS2 or Marshal from VALORANT.

Burst Assault Rifle: Just as the name suggests, it’s a three-shot burst rifle that packs a punch. It can be quite useful on defense while holding angles. The attacking side might not use it much unless they are half-buying. In short, a simple, well-rounded burst AR.

New Flex Gadgets

Overdrive: Overdrive is a unique new flex gadget that increases your movement, reload, and weapon swap speed after consuming it. This can be useful for aggressive players or entry fraggers. It’s not good as a team utility, but it can work well for individual players to pop off.

Fire Grenade: A simple fire Molotov that Ballistic had been missing for a while. Use it to stall enemies, push them out of corners, or clear angles. We have all seen it in many games, and now it’s part of Ballistic too.

Conclusion

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In short, Test Grounds exists to ensure that anything that’s added to the game is balanced and approved by the player base. It ensures that any change does not impact the competitive integrity of the game. Overall, it’s a positive way to ensure better communication between players and the developers.