Fortnite: Season 9 guide – Theme, Battle Pass cost, rewards and map changes

Navigation:

Need help with something specific? Use the following links to jump straight into what you’re after!

• 1. What’s new in Season 9?
• 2. What skins have arrived with Season 9?
• 3. What teasers have been released for Season 9?
• 4. When is Season 9 releasing?
• 5. What can we expect from Season 9?
• 6. What can we expect from Season 9’s Battle Pass?
• 7. What was introduced in Season 8?

Fortnite Season 9: What’s new?

Fortnite Season 9 has arrived and with it, a futuristic new theme, loads of new cosmetic items and a brand new Slipstream wind transportation system!

Below we’ve rounded up everything that’s been introduced with the new update:

Battle Pass Trailer

First up, here’s the new Season 9 Battle Pass trailer:

Slipstreams

These are tunnels of wind found around certain points of the map which allow you to navigate areas faster than normal. You’ll even be able to use directional input to gain extra velocity, so actions like bobbing up and down can increase your speed.

Projectiles and vehicles can also enter the stream too, which should make for some pretty hilarious moments.

New Map Locations

As with every seasonal update, there are a few new locations across Fortnite’s map.

This time, the destruction of the Volcano has led to Neo Tilted and Mega Mall to name just a couple.

Fortbytes

Fortbytes are a series of 100 collectible computer chips available to Battle Pass owners. As you collect Fortbytes, you’ll decrypt a mysterious image. Collect them all to unlock rewards and uncover the secrets of Season 9.

On the first day of Season 9, there are 18 Fortbytes available to find. At least 1 new Fortbyte will be unlocked each day. Check the Challenges Tab for detailed information on which Fortbytes are currently available and when the others unlock.

Fortbytes cannot be collected after Season 9 ends.

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

Weapon Changes

• 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%
• 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

Other Changes

There are many, many other tweaks and bug fixes with the new Season 9 update. For a complete overview of absolutely everything that’s arrived, make sure you head on over to Fortnite’s official Season 9 patch notes page.

Season 9 Battle Pass Skins

Here’s a look at all the new skins exclusive to Season 9’s Battle Pass.

Fortnite Season 9: All the teasers leading up to launch!

Teaser #2

Here’s the second teaser for Season 9 which showcases the letter “E” and seems to feature another futuristic/sci-fi inspired character. We’ve only got the letters “E” and “N” right now, so it’s impossible to tell what it’ll spell out and how it’ll relate to the new season, so hopefully we’ll get another teaser tomorrow which will shed some light on things.

Teaser #1

In usual Fortnite fashion, it’s releasing a teaser image every day until the new season launches. Here’s a look at the very first teaser which suggests we’ll be getting a futuristic theme, which lines up nicely with the mysterious metal vault appearing at the bottom of Loot Lake.

Going by previous seasons, Epic will likely release a total of four images. Slap them together and they’ll form a big poster revealing the overarching theme of Season 9.

Fortnite Season 9: When is the release date?

Epic Games hasn’t currently set an official release date or time, but it’s likely to be Thursday 9th May going by Fortnite’s usual schedule.

Also based on previous seasons, it’s likely Fortnite Season 9’s release time will be an early morning patch, followed by a lengthy 2-3 hours of server downtime. So realistically, you’ll be online and sampling all the seasonal content at around 11:00AM-ish.

Here are the likely maintenance start times:

• UK: 9am BST
• Europe: 10am (CEST)
• East Coast US: 4am (EDT)
• West Coast US: 1am (PDT)

Fortnite Season 9: What theme can we expect?

Season 8’s theme was marked by a somewhat fiery, somewhat pirate-y theme, which also – puzzlingly – introduced new snow and ice biomes to the map. It’s safe to say that Fortnite don’t really do an overarching theme, but splurge a few across the map.

Season 8’s theme is a strange mixture of fiery, pirate-y and tropical themed, with added snow and ice biomes – and Aztec Ruins? It’s safe to say that Fortnite never really rigidly adheres to one theme, but splices a few together which – mildly – relate to one another.

As with every season, there’s also a prelude event. We’ve had Kevin the Cube explode and teleport everyone into a trans-dimensional rift, and ice storm which covered the map in snow and most recently, an earthquake which heralded the arrival of the volcano in Season 8.

For Season 9, we’ve been treated to runes appearing across the map which we’ve also been encouraged to inflict damage to. Smoke has started streaming out of the volcano and there’s a futuristic lab hiding underneath Loot Lake.

Honestly, who knows what strange mix of themes Fortnite Season 9 is going to bring. Many players believe the volcano will finally erupt and bathe the map in lava. Perhaps the runes mean we’ll get some sort of magic theme? Maybe the futuristic lab will open up and unleash a plague of robotic things? Our money is on robots.

Fortnite Season 9: How much will the Battle Pass cost?

As with all previous season’s, Season 9’s Battle Pass will likely go for 950 V-Bucks, which equates to around £8/$10 in real world currency.

Upon purchase Season 9’s Battle Pass, you’ll likely receive a couple of progressive skins to work towards. On top of this, you’ll also gain access to all the premium challenges and exclusive cosmetic rewards too.

Epic Games will almost certainly reintroduce the Battle Bundle for 2,800 V-Bucks. Purchase this and you’ll receive a 25 tier boost right off the bat, as well as a Legendary Skin from the Battle Pass straight away – nice.

What was introduced in Fortnite Season 8?

Let’s take a look back at everything that was introduced with Fortnite Season 8. If anything, it’ll embed some realistic expectations for whatever Epic Games has in store for us when Season 9 rolls around.

• Cannons.
• Pirate Camps.
• A large volcano emerged on the map, as well as some new points of interest including Sunny Steps and Lazy Lagoon.
• Volcanic Vents which blast players up into the sky.
• New cosmetic items.