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Fortnite Ballistic Update: Test Grounds, New Maps & Gadgets Explained

James Leeland

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Publish Date: 01/05/2025

Fact checked by: Mike McKean

Key Points

Fortnite Ballistic gives players early access to shell maps
Players can provide honest feedback to help improve new maps, weapons, and items
New items like the Fire Grenade and Sovereign Sniper are available to test

Everything You Need to Know About the Fortnite Ballistic ‘Test Grounds’ Mode

Fortnite Ballistic has been given an update and is now known as ‘Test Grounds’. In the Ballistic mode, players can now access brand-new shell maps to provide feedback on testing to help improve the upcoming arenas.

But what do we know about this update? In this guide, we will reveal everything we know so far about the new maps, so you have a full understanding of what’s available and why. So, if you want to learn everything about Ballistic mode and how you can help provide feedback, stick with us for a full rundown.

Ballistic Test Grounds

What’s a shell map in Fortnite?

In simple terms, a ‘shell map’ is an unfinished new Fortnite map in Ballistic mode. This shell map is named ‘Test Grounds’ and gives players the chance to test out the new gameplay mode and items. As players test the environments, they can provide feedback to Epic Games, which will help to craft the finalized ideas before they are fully implemented.

1️⃣ Unfinished map:

Shell maps are incomplete maps that focus more on the overall gameplay, rather than the visuals

2️⃣ Testing:

These maps give players the chance to test new maps, items, and other elements

3️⃣ Ballistic Test Grounds:

Designed specifically to be a mode where players can get early access to new Fortnite content

4️⃣ Player feedback:

Players will be given the opportunity to give feedback on the new maps, items, and other elements

This works similarly to the Public Test Realms (PTR) you’ll see on League of Legends, Overwatch, and other major titles. The main purpose of these shell maps is to allow Epic Games to collect feedback on changes and new features before they’re rolled out into the main game. Game devs will often take in that feedback and make changes if needed, sometimes even delaying planned features so they can go through a longer testing and fine-tuning period based on player feedback.

New Fortnite map: Ballistic game mode

You won’t see the Ballistic Test Grounds map on any Fortnite betting sites, as it gives players the chance to test out maps that are currently in development. Top Fortnite fans will revel in the opportunity to play on unfinished arenas to provide feedback on the maps, items, and other elements.

The feedback can be anything that you liked and things that you would like to be improved, with the latter serving as the most important element of the testing process. In this round of testing, there are two new maps - Hammerfall and Storm Chaser Cove.

Storm Chaser Cove

New Fortnite Ballistic maps: Two maps are revealed

In the latest update, two new maps were made available as shell maps. It’s important to keep in mind that these maps will lack the environmental details, as these will be added later after testing and player feedback.

The first map is Hammer Fall, which we have already seen a little in Chapter 4. Similar to the Citadel, Hammer Fall is a fortress with a tower that overlooks the battlefield.

You will then have Storm Chaser Cover, which has the appearance of a beach resort that’s located right next to the water. While some of the walls are low, they provide the perfect opportunity to rain grenades down on your opponents.

Both of these maps will be put on a rotation, which means the one you access will be based on the players who are queuing. For example, if more players pick Storm Chaser Cove, the next map is likely to be Hammer Fall, to give both maps a fair chance.

Hammer Fall fortnite

New gadgets for Fortnite Ballistic

Aside from the two new maps, there are also a few other changes coming to the new Fortnite Ballistic map update. Two of the latest gadgets to be made available include Fire Grenade and Overdrive, which will help create a different environment.

Fire Grenade

Players can now purchase the Fire Grenade as a gadget, which works by engulfing the target area in flames. Players will need to light the grenade before throwing it into the target area, which will then burst into flames. The aim here is to damage the enemy and anyone else who is in the area, to control the space.

Fire Grenade

Overdrive

This gadget is a drink that your character can consume to give them a big shot of adrenaline. By drinking Overdrive, your character’s movement speed and weapon reload speed will be increased. It will also increase how quickly your character can swap weapons. If you use the Rift Point Device, Overdrive will also help you to speed up the process of planting or defusing it.

Overdrive Fortnite

New weapons for Ballistic

The fun doesn’t end there either, as there are two brand-new weapons available - Burst Assault Rifle and Sovereign Sniper. The Burst Assault Rifle causes lots of damage with just three rounds, thanks to its accurate aim.

The Sovereign Sniper is a lightweight rifle that is designed to improve your mobility. While it won’t finish the job in one hit, you can get a second shot in relatively fast.

Pros and cons of Ballistic

Pro and Con

Test two new shell maps
See how the new gadgets work
Report on bugs and issues
Early access to updates

Not refined or ‘perfected’

Conclusion: Enjoy early access to two new maps

Any Fortnite fan will love the opportunity to gain early access to the two new maps. Not only will you get the chance to see the maps early, but you can help to refine the maps before they officially launch. Furthermore, you can try out new weapons and gadgets to see how they work in practice.