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The Fortnite v10.40 content update has added a new Rift Zone and competitive mode, and introduces skill-based matchmaking.
The Combine is the new competitive mode, which will put players’ skill and muscle memory to the test. Race to the finish line and mow down the targets as you go, and compete against challengers for the fastest time on the leaderboard. And, another Rift Zone has appeared on the island. This one is called Starry Suburbs, and the shooting stars that crash to the earth offer enviable loot, including a ‘never-before-seen weapon’. But I still think that the Spicy Taco showers was an inspired meteorological phenomenon.
The Limited Time Mode is Zone Wars, with four arenas created by Fortnite fans. Players will eliminate their competition in Colosseum, Desert, Downhill River, and Vortex maps as the storm safe zone ricochets from corner to corner. Queue with up to 15 friends in this LTM, and random spawn points and inventories keep it fresh.
‘Tis the season in Creative Mode, as the update brings the new Spooky Prop and Spooky Particle galleries. Players will build horrific haunted houses with items like Ghosts, Graves, Scarecrows, and Pumpkins, and will cultivate a creepy aura with the Lanterns, Candles & Lights and Smoke Machine. The Spooky Particle Gallery offers Blinking Eyes, Fog Patches, and Bats for toony terror, but there’s also the Creature Placer for diabolically designer scares.
This Device will spawn in creatures to haunt the creative construction. There are a lucky number of 13 creatures to be placed, including Red Fiends, Megabrutes, and Ice Ranged. Players are able to choose when these pop up, and will work in tandem with the Creature Manager if that is also placed in the zone.
And finally, skill-based matchmaking is live in Fortnite. Its ‘improved matchmaking logic’ will hold matches that place players of similar skill together. The new system will roll out to core modes in all regions, but is still subject to changes as it is trialled. If players were frustrated by the skewy battles and retired from active duty, Epic Games has chucked in a double XP weekend to sway them, starting on September 27 to September 30.
The v10.40 patch notes are available to read in their entirety here. Fortnite is out now for iOS, Android, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch.
