Epic Games to Nerf the Baller in Fortnite: Battle Royale
Epic Games has made a promise to weaken the latest vehicle in Fortnite: Battle Royale, The Baller. This promise comes after the company received feedback from players who expressed dissatisfaction with the current use of Ballers, particularly in the late game. In response, Epic is making changes to address these concerns.
Upcoming Changes to The Baller
In the v8.20 patch notes, Epic announced that The Baller will no longer deal damage when running over players. Additionally, the v8.30 update next week will allow players to shoot through the glass of the hamster ball and damage the driver. These changes aim to make the vehicle less overpowering and provide players with more ways to counter it.
Epic’s Avoidance of Controversies in Competitive Play
The changes to The Baller reflect Epic’s efforts to prevent controversies in Fortnite’s upcoming official competitions, such as the Fortnite World Cup Open Qualifiers. The company faced harsh criticism in the past for introducing the Mythic item Infinity Blade during the $1 million Winter Royale competition in December 2018. Many professional players complained about the item’s unbalance and its impact on competitive gameplay.
The Impact of The Baller in Competitions
Epic may be concerned about similar criticism if The Baller’s current iteration remains unchanged for future competitions. Professional players have been utilizing The Baller to protect themselves in late-game scenarios and quickly maneuver around structures. It is difficult for opponents without a vehicle to target those inside The Baller due to its durability. Attempting to shoot it down exposes the shooter to other opponents. This gives players inside The Baller a higher chance of survival and victory. This strategy could potentially enable players to advance in the Fortnite World Cup Open Qualifiers solely by turtling inside The Baller, which would affect the fairness of the competition.
Introducing changes to counter The Baller will provide players with a better chance to engage with and overcome the vehicle’s advantages. By allowing players to play around the vehicle, Epic aims to address concerns and minimize criticism regarding The Baller’s impact on competitive play. This will hopefully divert the focus of competitive mode criticisms to past issues like the controversial Infinity Blade in Winter Royale.