In Fortnite: Battle Royale, a long-requested feature is apparently coming to the game soon: Ranked Play, where players can climb the leaderboards and match with equally skilled opponents.
What is Ranked Play? Ranked Play is a feature that ranks players based on their performance in the game. Players then climb the ranks within the leaderboards and are placed into higher rank categories for good performance. The benefit is that there is a visible rank that reflects one’s performance.
And on the other hand, players play only with similarly skilled players in the group. Unequal matches, where a team of professionals wipes out dozens of noobs, are then more the exception.
In Fortnite, this feature has not been present so far, which has frustrated many players. That is set to change now.
The first leaderboard in Fortnite
What does the leaderboard look like? On the weekend of February 9 to 10, there will be several qualification rounds in which players can earn ranks. Top players will thus enter directly into higher rank categories, the divisions.
The leaderboard series titled „Show Some Love!“ will then begin with Update 7.40, which is expected to be released on February 12, 2019. Participants will be placed into four divisions:
- Open Division
- Prospect Division
- Contender Division
- Champion Division
How do you rank up in the divisions? Competitions take place every night, where you can earn awards for each tournament segment. If you earn an award, you can rank up to a higher division.
Those who continue to rank up in the highest Champion Division will be invited to the finals on February 23 to 24.
Which game modes will be supported? According to Epic, there will be both solo and duo modes in the ranked matches.
Why is Fortnite introducing Ranked Play now?
Ranked Play has long been requested by Fortnite fans, but Epic has not done anything of the sort so far. However, the big, new battle royale competitor Apex Legends is reportedly planning a Ranked Play feature already.
Many players who have had enough of Epic’s inaction have already switched to the competition or intend to do so if nothing happens soon.
Therefore, it seems like a lucky coincidence that the ranked feature is suddenly coming to Fortnite right now. It almost feels like Epic has had this ready for a while and was pressured by the impending competition from Apex to implement Ranked Play before the competitor steals their lunch.
The battle for the battle royale crown remains exciting. What do you think? Will the new ranked feature keep Fortnite at the top?
