Fortnite has become one of the biggest names in the world of battle royale gaming, helping to drive Epic’s fortunes into the stratosphere. Part of the reason for Fortnite’s success is its mix of different game modes, featuring modified rules and map changes that help to keep the gameplay fresh.
Fortnite: Reload is the latest game mode that Epic has officially released. It takes the classic battle royale formula and changes things up for faster combat and more intense action.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at Fortnite: Reload and how it differs from the other popular modes. We’ll also give you a few tips to help make the most of Reload’s unique rules, but if you want to make sure that you win your match in style, you can buy a Fortnite account that already has rare skins unlocked for you.
What is Fortnite: Reload?
Fortnite: Reload is a modified version of Fortnite’s standard battle royale mode designed for faster squad-based gameplay. Each match has 40 players, although you can now play Reload in Solos, Duos, or Squads. Every version of Reload features a modified version of the original Island that forces players into combat more rapidly, creating a faster overall match.
Reload was first launched on June 22, 2024, but Epic has launched several updates since then. You can now play Reload in Solos, Duos, and Squads, in both ranked and unranked versions. There are also no-build matches available where Fortnite’s classic building options are unavailable to players.
How Does Fortnite: Reload Differ from Battle Royale?
Here’s a quick overview of the differences between Reload and standard BR mode:
| Standard Battle Royale | Fortnite: Reload | |
| Respawning | Reboot cards used by squadmates at a Reboot Van | 2 automatic Reboots per match |
| Player count | 100 players | 40 players |
| Map size | Standard map size | Reduced map size |
The crucial difference between Reload and Battle Royale is what happens when you die: rebooting or respawning after dying. The clue is in the name!
In a typical Fortnite battle royale match, players must be revived by a squadmate using a Reboot card at a Reboot van. If you die when you’re playing Solos, there’s no one to revive you, so that’s the end of the match for you!
In Reload, each player gets two Reboots at the start of the match. If you get knocked down in Duos or Squads, you can either wait for a teammate to revive you or you can choose to immediately start the 30-second Reboot timer. Once the 30-second timer ends, you will Reboot and respawn in mid-air, gliding over the center of the storm circle.
If you’re playing Reload in Solos, you still get two Reboots, but there’s no revive option since you don’t have any squadmates who can revive you. Instead, you just Reboot directly into mid-air over the center of the current storm circle.
The other significant difference between Reload and BR is the player count. Reload features a maximum of 40 players compared to the original 100-player free-for-all. This might not seem like enough players, but remember that everyone gets two automatic Reboots, so you could actually run into more players in Reload than in a standard BR match.
What’s New on the Fortnite: Reload Map?
Reload has two maps in rotation: the Venture map, which was available first when Reload launched, and the newer Oasis map, which was added in November 2024. Both maps feature a smaller overall size and fewer named points of interest than the current battle royale map. This map design forces players into combat much faster while limiting the exploration options, which makes for slightly faster matches compared to 100-player modes.
Does Fortnite: Reload Have a Ranked Version?
Yes, Reload does have a ranked version, although it was not available at first. The option to play ranked was added in September 2024, several months after the initial Reload launch date.
Ranks in Reload work the same way as ranks in standard battle royale: three tiers of Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond, followed by single-tier levels for Elite, Champion, and Unreal.
If you’re playing Reload as duos or a squad, your entire team will play at the same rank as your highest-ranked squad member. So if you try to get one of your higher-ranked friends to carry your whole squad to victory, remember that you’ll all be playing against squads with that same high rank!
How Popular is Fortnite: Reload?
Fortnite: Reload isn’t quite as popular as the standard battle royale mode, but it still has a decent player count. According to live stat tracker fortnite.gg, Reload had a peak concurrent player count of just over 820,000, while Ranked Reload reached a peak player count of almost 450,000.
Unfortunately, both of these player count peaks occurred when the new mode first launched. This is pretty standard for most new releases—a large player count appears when the mode is first released, and then things quiet down a bit.
Both Reload and Ranked Reload currently peak at somewhere between 120,000 and 130,000 players during weekends when servers are busiest. In other words, you’ll never have to worry about finding a match – but if you want to stand out from the crowd, you can buy cheap Vbucks to grab some in-game swag so you look your best for the Victory Royale!
Tips for Winning in Fortnite: Reload
Here are a few helpful tips that can help bring you victory in Reload:
- In Solos, save your Reboots at all costs. Once you reach the endgame, Reboots get disabled, and any remaining Rebots are converted into additional shield points. This extra protection can be the difference between victory and defeat!
- In Duos/Squads, think carefully about when to revive and when to reboot. Because you can choose whether to wait for a squadmate to revive you, you should only Reboot if your teammate is pinned down and unable to get to you.
- Spend some time learning the map. Reload’s smaller map size means that combat is more frequent, making map awareness even more important than in standard BR.
A Final Word about Reload
Reload is one of the most exciting changes to Fortnite since its launch, and the fast-paced combat keeps your adrenaline pumping from start to finish. It’s one of the most rewarding modes to play solo, but it’s also a great way to change things up for squad play, too.
Just remember – always thank your bus driver!
