Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1: New Map, Surf Drop, Weapons & Gameplay Changes

Yash Choudhary
4 days ago
3 min read

Fortnite Chapter 7 is already live, and it features one of the most ambitious changes to the battle royale in years. Epic Games has changed the way players access the island, created a new West Coast-inspired map, added fan-favorite characters to the Battle Pass, and provided a big load of gameplay features that shift the flow of each encounter.

Here's a comprehensive guide to everything new in Fortnite: Chapter 7 Season 1.

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 A New Beginning

The Chapter 7 launch trailer teased it, and it's now official: the Battle Bus has been destroyed. Instead of diving from the sky, players must now surf across a large tsunami wave to choose their landing location. What's the twist? You can only land along the coast; no more falling into the island's heart.

Meanwhile, old modes like Reload, Blitz Royale, Fortnite OG, and Delulu will return later in December, when the Battle Bus has been "repaired."

New Chapter, New Island: The Golden Coast

The Golden Coast, the island in Chapter 7, is a sunny mash-up of classic West Coast sites from the United States. From vivid beaches to busy cityscapes, this is Fortnite's most California-inspired map yet.

All POIs in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1:

Battlewood Boulevard
Bumpy Bay
Classified Canyon
Fore Fields
Humble Hills
Innoloop Labs
Latte Landing
Painted Palms
Ripped Tides
Sandy Strip
Sus Studios
Tiptop Terrace
Wonkeeland

Each location introduces new navigation choices, hidden passageways, and new points of fight, changing rotations throughout the season.

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 Weapons & Items

Chapter 7 Season 1 refreshes Fortnite’s weapon pool with a mix of brand-new firepower and returning classics.

New Weapons

Iron Pump Shotgun
Twin Hammer Shotguns
Deadeye Assault Rifle
Holo Rush SMG
Vengeful Sniper Rifle
Arc-Lightning Gun
Forsaken Vow Blade

Returning Weapons & Items

Tactical Pistol
Dual Micro SMGs
Enforcer AR
All Terrain Kart
Shockwave Grenades
Clinger Grenades

New Utility: Wingsuit

Players can now equip wingsuits to glide from high spots and reposition with ease, equivalent to Apex-style aerial mobility but with a Fortnite twist.

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 Major Gameplay Changes

1. Reload Memory System

One of the most important updates: reloading now resumes where you left off.

Switching weapons or being interrupted no longer restarts the reload animation, making gunfights more fluid and tactical.

2. DBNO Reinvented (Down But Not Out)

Being knocked down isn’t the end anymore. DBNO now offers:

Faster movement (at the expense of energy).
Rolling and sliding down hill
Using zip lines and ascenders
Entering vehicles, including being thrown into a Reboot van
Self-revive, if carrying a self-revival device.

Epic has also introduced drivable Reboot Vans, allowing squads to revive on the move.

3. Simple Build: Building Made Beginner-Friendly

Epic added Simple Build, a setting similar to Simple Edit, to help users migrate from Zero Build.

Simply look where you want to create and click the button—no intricate rotations or structure shifting necessary.

4. Rift Anomalies

After each Storm phase, players may encounter random rift anomalies, including:

Multiple rift portals are spawning across the map.
Players that remain still or sit down will experience temporary invisibility.
Other unexpected impacts that can change the momentum of late-game fights

5. New UI Overhaul

Chapter 7 updates several interface elements including:

Inventory layout
Hitmarker visuals
Emote wheel design
Elimination feed style

Everything feels sharper, cleaner, and more modern.

Battle Pass: Iconic Characters Arrive

This season’s Battle Pass includes two long-rumored crossovers:

The Bride (Kill Bill)
Marty McFly (Back to the Future)

Their skins, emotes, and accessories give players fresh ways to show off during matches.

Become the Boss

Defeating Human Bill, Hush, or Beach Brutus unlocks the ability to transform into the boss you defeated. While transformed, you’ll gain:

Increased health and shields
Infinite energy
A unique powerful ability

But beware—your location becomes visible to nearby players at all times.

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 is one of the most ambitious updates the game has ever released, combining high-velocity gameplay, a new traversal system, an entirely new island, and a completely redesigned combat flow. Whether you're exploring the Golden Coast, trying out new weapons, or mastering the wingsuit, the season has something for every type of player.