Fortnite Ranked Season Zero Recap

Fortnite Ranked Season Zero Recap

8.23.2023
The Fortnite Team

Ranked Battle Royale and Zero Build players,

Today, we're excited to reflect on Ranked Season Zero and share some updates about the future of Ranked in Fortnite Battle Royale Chapter 4 Season 4. 

We launched Season Zero for Ranked Battle Royale and Zero Build in the v24.40 game update, and we're incredibly grateful for the overwhelming response from our dedicated community. Your passion and feedback have been invaluable in shaping the journey so far, and we're committed to making it even better. So let's dive right into what's in store for Chapter 4 Season 4 Ranked!

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Ranked Solo Zero Build Experiment

We’ll be introducing Ranked Solo Zero Build for a limited time during the first weekend of Battle Royale Chapter 4 Season 4. We will be closely monitoring matchmaking health in all Ranked experiences during this time, which will play a crucial role in deciding if Solo Zero Build becomes a permanent addition to Ranked Fortnite. Don't miss this opportunity to try it out and share your thoughts with us!

Rank Reset in Battle Royale Chapter 4 Season 4

At the start of Chapter 4 Season 4, we'll be initiating a rank reset. This means that everyone's Rank will be reset to provide a fresh start for all players. 

Similar to Season Zero, you’ll only need to play one Ranked match in Chapter 4 Season 4 to have your rank revealed (one match per Battle Royale and Zero Build). Your performance in your first match does not determine your initial rank placement. Rather, it reveals your rank and then updates your rank progress bar based on your performance in the match.

Don't worry — your achievements and statistics from Season Zero will still be accessible in the Career section with the addition of Ranked statistics in the upcoming v26.10 game update.

Update: The addition of Ranked statistics will not be included in v26.10 and will instead be released in a future game update.


Reflecting on Ranked Season Zero

Looking back at Season Zero of Ranked Battle Royale and Zero Build, it marked a crucial period for the community, laying the foundation for the journey that follows.


Queue Times and Matchmaking

With the introduction of Ranked Battle Royale and Zero Build, we aimed to minimize queue times and maintain high-quality matchmaking. 

In an effort to achieve this, we vaulted the Trios mode in Battle Royale and Zero Build but swiftly re-enabled it due to its significance to players.

As many players quickly reached Unreal rank, we listened to feedback and increased the threshold needed for Elite and Champion players to rank up. Also, early challenges in matchmaking were addressed: we actively worked to fix rank progress inconsistencies, make significant improvements to queue times, and refine the process for fair matches. During Chapter 4 Season 4 Ranked, we aim to strike a balance by refining and fine-tuning the matchmaking algorithms, ensuring a smoother experience without being as heavy-handed as we were in Season Zero. We will actively monitor and make necessary changes to deliver better results, creating a more enjoyable and balanced ranked journey for all players.

Season Zero was a period of learning and growth, and we're grateful to the community for your valuable feedback, and we can't wait to continue creating unforgettable moments in Fortnite.


Creating A Satisfying and Fair Journey

Our primary focus is to make the Ranked progression journey more satisfying and fair for all players. We've been working on updating the progression calculations to ensure that your skill and dedication are accurately reflected in your ranking. We believe this will mean more balanced matches and a more enjoyable experience for Ranked in Chapter 4 Season 4.

Some of the improvements we’ve made in Season Zero regarding match fairness are below:

  • Decreased rank losses for being eliminated early in a match. 
  • Bonus rank is gained for eliminating players with a higher Rank than yourself (and subsequently, diminished losses of rank for losing to players with a higher Rank than yourself).
  • Made general improvements to the Ranked progression path throughout Season Zero.


Ranked and Fortnite Competitive

While Ranked is a major part of both competitive and non-competitive Fortnite, we're aware that the Fortnite competitive landscape is continuously evolving. Tournaments will continue to share many features with Ranked matches. Of course, there might be exceptions for certain items or features that could impact competitive gameplay in a negative way. We'll keep the competitive community updated on any additional changes in future blog posts.

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Chapter 4 Season 4 Ranked is almost here, releasing alongside Battle Royale Chapter 4 Season 4! We're thrilled to see the community's passion for Ranked play, and are committed to delivering the best possible experience for all players. Your feedback and support are the driving force behind the improvements we make, so please continue sharing your thoughts with us. Let's make this Season unforgettable together!

Thank you all for being part of this incredible journey. Chapter 4 Season 4 Ranked is just the beginning, and we can't wait to see what the future holds for Ranked Battle Royale and Zero Build. Keep your eyes peeled for more updates, and let's make this season unforgettable together!

See you in the Ranked matches!