What’s New in Fortnite Season 9? Everything You Need to Know

The volcano’s epic explosion at the end of Season 8 meant curtains for the swashbuckling pirate theme and the start of something new. What we’ve ended up with is something very, er, new. Futuristic, even, with Season 9’s funky sci-fi aesthetic, which has not only overhauled the map’s appearance but added new locations and new mechanics to the game.

As you’d expect, Season 9 also brings a whole bunch of cool new cosmetics, too, as well as a new weapon. Players can also look forward to different gameplay modes and limited time events running throughout the upcoming season. Let’s take a moment to break down exactly what’s new in Fortnite Season 9.

Map Changes & New Locations

RIP Tilted Towers, we had a love/hate relationship with you since day one, but now that it’s all said and done we’ll miss the irresistible chaos of your loot-filled towers!

Although there’s no need to get too upset, as two new locations fill the void left by the volcano’s devastating blast: Neo Tilted, and Mega Mall.

These new areas epitomize the cyberpunk-style color palette and design of Fornite’s new map, and they also look destined to earn their own reputation as the game’s most frantic and dangerous areas. There’s plenty of verticality to these areas, making them seriously entertaining places for shootouts.

There’s also plenty of loot in the area, so you can expect them to be a real hotspot for players jumping from the bus right at the start of each match.

For a full overview of what the new Season 9 Fortnite map looks like, click here.

Slipstreams & Air Vents

As we mentioned earlier, Epic Games has peppered new technology across the updates Season 9 map. Specifically, the slipstream transportation system, as well as air vent devices.

Basically, these function as a means for players to quickly navigate around the map. In the case of the slipstream system, players can glide through a vortex from ring to ring, increasing their speed by bobbing up and down.

Air vents, on the other hand, are reminiscent of the jump pads that were vaulted last year. Air vents boost players a short distance into the air and allow them to either traverse tall buildings or get inside the vortex.

Check out our full breakdown of what Slipstreams and Air Vents are and how to use them here.

Season 9 Battle Pass

It should come as no surprise that Season 9 brings with it a new Battle Pass. The latest is packed with different challenges to tick off, which earn players all sorts of cool new cosmetic rewards.

Immediately after purchasing the new Battle Pass, you’ll unlock two new skins: Sentinel, and Rox. These Tier 1 skins have different versions as you accumulate XP. The other new cosmetics are as follows:

• Bunker Jonesy (Tier 23)
• Vega (Tier 47)
• Stratus (Tier 71)
• Demi (Tier 87)
• Sentinal Dark (Tier 99)
• Vendetta (Tier 100)

The full list of what’s included in the Battle Pass is listed below:

Premium

• Rox progressive skin
• Sentinel skin
• Bunker Jonesy skin
• Sentinel wrap
• Ripe Rippers harvesting tool
• Turbo Spin glider
• Ripe wrap
• 300 V-Bucks
• 1 Music Track
• 70% Bonus Season Match XP
• 20% Bonus Season Friend Match XP

Standard

• Two outfits
• 50% personal match XP boost
• 60% friend match XP boost
• Access to more Challenges

Perhaps the most notable new addition that comes with the Season 9 Battle Pass are Fortbytes. These collectible items form the backbone of the entire Pass and are involved in most challenges.

Fortbytes are a set of 100 computer chips dotted across Fortnite’s map for those that own the Battle Pass. As you find and unlock these items, you’ll begin to decrypt a locked image, which slowly reveals secrets about Season 9’s story as you go.

As of right now, there are 18 to find, and each is unlocked differently. For example, some simply require you to earn a certain amount of XP, while others unlock after visiting a certain area of the map wearing a specific skin.

For help on how to get all Fortbyte’s, check out our dedicated guide.

New Weapons & Items Changes

There’s also a new weapon to contend with in the latest Fortnite season. The Combat Shotgun replaces the Pump Shotgun, which has now been vaulted (shock, horror!). The Tactical Shotgun has also been nerfed somewhat.

Here’s the full list of new weapon and item additions/changes:

Added Combat Shotgun

• Semi-Automatic
• Holds 10 Shells.
• Fires 9 pellets per shot for 73 / 77 / 81 base damage.
• Tight spread and fast fire rate.
• Headshot multiplier of 1.70x.
• Reloads 2 shells at a time.
• Available in Rare, Epic, and Legendary variants.
• Available from Floor, Chests, Supply Drops, and Vending Machines

Adjusted Tactical Shotgun damage

• Base damage increased from 66/70/74 to 71/75/79
• Reduced Drum Gun availability from 16.732% to 7.155%
• Reduced Boom Bow availability from 1.292% to .755%

Vault Changes

• Unvaulted Grenades
• Vaulted Clingers
• Vaulted Buried Treasure
• Vaulted Pump Shotgun
• Vaulted Poison Dart Trap
• Vaulted Scoped Revolver
• Vaulted Suppressed Assault Rifle
• Vaulted Thermal Assault Rifle
• Vaulted Balloons

You can read the full patch notes for the season here, and if you need help with the first of this season’s challenges then check out our guides listing all Season 9 challenges, as well as how to complete week 1.