Fortnite Season 5 Adds Baby Yoda, Bounties, Kratos, And More

The Zero Point has been exposed, and Fortnite's Season 5 has begun. Here's what you need to know about Fortnite Season 5 and what to expect from the new v15.00 update, which is now available across all active platforms (sorry, iOS users). Although we don't have Season 5 patch notes, there's a new Battle Pass full of challenges and skins--including one for the Mandalorian--some significant changes to the map, and much more to check out. You have plenty to do with the new update, including special bounties on other players. There also appear to be more famous characters on the way. This could be the most eclectic season for content to date.

Battle Pass

The new Battle Pass, as rumored, includes content from the Star Wars TV show, The Mandalorian. Players can unlock a skin based on the Mandalorian himself by simply purchasing the Battle Pass, and then challenges--such as one to visit the Razor Crest--will unlock additional customization options for it. By ranking up the Battle Pass, you can unlock tons of rewards, both Star Wars-inspired and otherwise, while making it to rank 100 will get you both The Child (aka Baby Yoda) as a pet and an additional clothing style for the Mando skin.

At the higher ranks, there is a secret skin and back bling for players to eventually unlock, although it's unclear what that might relate to. We also got confirmation of Kratos from the God of War series appearing in the game, though that's a separate purchase rather than part of the battle pass. PS5 players get an extra armor skin, too. We've seen rumors of Master Chief and other Halo goodies coming in the future. This has yet to be confirmed. If true, it could include famous vehicles such as the Pelican dropship.

As usual, you can unlock the new Battle Pass content through gameplay or by spending real money to get the items faster. This Battle Pass is priced at the usual 950 V-Bucks (just under $10) or, for the first time, you can join Fortnite Crew, a monthly subscription service that includes V-Bucks, access to the Battle Pass, and more perks.

New Weapons and Items

The Zero Point update also introduces new weapons, including the Dragon's Breath shotgun and Night Hawk. Another one is The Mandalorian's Amban Sniper rifle, which lets you switch between melee and ranged. One way you can get that is by heading to Mando's ship and taking out the AI enemy nearby. You need to reach that ship to get a piece of armor, as well. More weapons are coming throughout the Season 5 update, so you can expect a bigger arsenal over time. With any luck, there will be more Star Wars weapons, but the Zero Point theme could mean they come from different franchises.

A new form of currency, Bars, are also now available in Fortnite. You can earn them by completing quests and bounties; they are also earned by racking up kills and finding hidden items on the map. These Bars can be spent on Exotic weapons and upgrades, among other things.

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Bounty System

Fortnite players will also find new quests and bounties from NPCs. "Take on their quests and bounties, get intel on your surroundings, or hire them to be your ally. Don’t want to negotiate? Challenge them to a duel and reap the rewards," Epic said. The bounty system provides you with specific objectives during a match, such as hunting down another player. Of course, that means you can become the target of a bounty, so you'll need to pay close attention to make sure you're not being hunted down.

Map Changes

Finally, the Fortnite map has introduced new locations "from beyond the Loop." The description says, "Battle for honor in an ancient arena, sharpen your survival skills in the jungle, and explore the shifting crystalline sands flowing from the exposed Zero Point." The Zero Point can now be sitting floating in mid-air over the middle of the map, and sands cover most of the central area of the map--and allow you to hide underneath.

Galactus

All of this arrives following Fortnite's Galactus event, which saw players team up to defeat the big bad before he could consume the Zero Point. However, despite successfully fighting him off, the Zero Point has been compromised, which sets up the scenario you see in the story trailer that plays when first booting up the game, with Jonesy being sent into action.