What Was Changed in Chapter 2 Season 7

The seventh season of Fortnite’s second chapter began on June 8, 2021, and is set to run until September 12. In contrast to the previous Fortnite season, it has a high-tech sci-fi theme, focusing on an alien invasion and the Imagined Order’s attempts to stop it. In gameplay terms, that means dramatic alterations to the battle royale maps, new hazards and opportunities, and a variety of advanced weapons. The season also brought with it changes to the seasonal pass system and a new mini-mode. Read on to find out more about the additions and what they mean for the game going forward.

Alien Invasion

Seasonal map changes are part of how Epic Games keeps the experience fresh. This time was no exception. The Primal areas that appeared in the previous season have vanished. Aliens destroyed the central Spire at the start of the season, leaving a crater and discolored terrain around it. In response, the Imagined Order began setting up camps and facilities throughout the map, protected by trigger-happy guards. As the season progressed, the alien Mothership stole entire locations, including Slurpy Swamp and Coral Castle. The Holly Hedges have been taken over. Other alien vessels and parasites have spawned as well.

The changes to the island are not just cosmetic. Many of them also involve new mechanics that crafty players can use to help them win the match. For example, alien parasites can latch on to nearby characters and eat some of their HP. However, they also provide movement bonuses and other potentially useful trade-offs. Alien Saucers can be hijacked and used to attack or kidnap other players from above. They can also abduct players from certain locations and take them to the Mothership. Those lucky abductees can then fight a mini-battle royale in the latest stolen location, collecting Legendary loot if they win.

Arsenal of the Future

The primitive and improvised weapons from the previous season have been vaulted. A set of futuristic items have taken their place. Combatants can wield the likes of automatic pulse rifles, sniper rail guns, and SMG-like rayguns as they seek to rack up kills. Those advanced weapons follow their own rules. For instance, rail guns require charging before shooting, while pulse rifles shoot faster from the hip. There are also sophisticated new explosive weapons, such as a launcher that fires knockback spheres and a highly destructive charged plasma cannon. The grab-itron lets players throw in-game objects as projectiles. Some basic weapons have returned to the loot pool as well.

Last season’s crafting system has been overhauled. It is now used to create alternate versions of weapons with the same rarity. For example, assault rifles can be turned into burst assault rifles that fire in two-round bursts.  Earth weapons are upgraded using Nuts and Bolts, while alien and Imagined Order weapons require nanites. Alternatively, they can be used to modify Earth weaponry into futuristic equivalents. Those nanites can also be deployed in the field to create short-lived anti-gravity fields, helping combatants move through areas quickly.

Battle Pass Revamped

The way the season Battle Pass works has changed. Starting with this season, players earn Battle Stars instead of specific cosmetics whenever they level up. This currency can then be spent to purchase available Battle Pass rewards in any order. However, the reward options are still tied to levels. On every tenth level, the player will unlock a new page with more options. Nonetheless, this system offers more flexibility, letting players hold on to their Battle Stars and get the rewards they want most as quickly as possible. The maximum Battle Pass level has been raised to 140.

As for the specific rewards, unsurprisingly, a lot of them have a sci-fi theme. Character skins added in-season include Rick from Rick and Morty and one of the most famous aliens in popular media – Superman. The latter can be obtained by completing special quests. There are also original characters connected to Fortnite’s own storyline, like the conspiracy leader Doctor Slone and the alien enthusiast Sunny. The most remarkable addition is Kymera, a free first-page alien cosmetic that can be customized using Alien Artifacts found all over the island. That includes radically different facial features, as well as colors and patterns for skin and armor.

Impostors Among Us

For those who want to take a break from Battle Royale and the Arena, there is a new mini-game mode called Impostors. It is a social deduction game clearly inspired by Among Us. In it, Agents must complete tasks on an Imagined Order station. While most of them attempt to keep the station running, there is also an Impostor (or two, depending on the group size). The Impostor(s) must eliminate the other Agents and take over, while the Agents seek to flush them out. Communication in the mode is limited to Quick Chat and Emotes, which Agents must use to help them decide who to eject during Discussions.

By most accounts, the mode is not as good as the game that inspired it, which is hardly surprising. After all, it still uses Fortnite’s cartoony 3D graphics and is less focused both visually and in design. Nonetheless, it can be a fun social activity. Interestingly, it is actually the second social deduction mode in Fortnite, after The Spy Within in the Creative playlist. The popularity of both modes suggests that even though Impostors is unlikely to be available for much longer, similar limited-time social modes will probably appear in future seasons as well.

Season 7 is coming to a close. Fans estimate that the latest dramatic season-ending event, Operation: Skyfire, will occur on September 12, 8 PM GMT. The aliens and futuristic weapons may or may not go away after that. There have been hints that the next season will also involve sci-fi shenanigans with a parallel dimension. It will definitely have different mechanics and map changes of its own, but some of them may build on this season’s creation. For one thing, leaks indicate that the crafting system is here to stay. In any case, it is a good time to start powerleveling if you don’t want to miss out on this season’s otherworldly cosmetics!