Fortnite: Chapter 7, Season 1 – Pacific Break [IMPRESSIONS]

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 welcomes players with a bang, and after the Avengers Endgame-style finale to the previous season, it really does feel like a refresh – especially since the Battle Bus is blown to smithereens from the get-go (although it has since been repaired thanks to the diligent work of players). After pumping plenty of hours in already, it’s clear that this is more than just a small tweak of the game… it’s a full blown refinement. And you know what? I’m actually really fond of what it has to offer.

Check out some screenshots down below:

The most dramatic change happens before you even touch the ground, with the Battle Bus – Fortnite’s most iconic vehicle – blown up and put out of commission… or at least it was. It didn’t take long for the Battle Bus to be reinstated (something that was achieved by players collecting bus parts in-game), but honestly? I think it’s a mistake that it’s fixed so soon, purely because the alternative is so damn cool.

Instead of diving in from the Battle Bus, players instead rode a massive wave that circled the island, and after a short window to move around, are launched into the air and forced to glide down from a more limited position. It felt like such a unique and enjoyable shift to the mechanic that it’s a shame to see the Battle Bus recovered so quickly, and sure, you’ll still occasionally ride in via the wave in some matches (I’m not sure of the exact frequency), but the Battle Bus is more common.

The theme of this season’s island is Pacific Break (or summertime fun), with its overall design more focused and avoiding overwhelming players with too many biomes right out of the gate. Fewer biomes will give the map room to grow naturally across the season instead of feeling cramped by too many ideas at once, which it was a little guilty of during the last full season. The Simpsons mini-season really showed that a smaller island can work, and whilst this is still bigger than that, you’ll never feel too far away from the action or overwhelmed by so many different locations. And hey, new traversal options like the assortment of hot air balloons or the ever-satisfying wing-suit add some fun variety – there’s even a working rollercoaster to ride, and believe me, there’s nothing better than using it to get out of a tricky situation (or even catch a rival player off-guard). It all comes together nicely and I’m excited to see how things continue to evolve as the season goes on.

One of the biggest changes introduced this season is the overhaul of the UI, with nearly everything redesigned: teammate health bars, inventory layout, emotes, and even general information placement. Some of the new features are undeniably useful, like clearer reload indicators and better visibility for weapon information, but other changes feel like they exist simply for the sake of it. My biggest complaint comes with the new emote system, which replaces the traditional wheel with a scrollable ‘collection’ view. It looks nice in theory, sure, but it doesn’t feel anywhere near as intuitive as what came before it. It’ll all take some time to get used to, but I do like it… it could just do with a couple of changes to keep everyone happy.

Chapter 7 Season 1 also introduces several gameplay systems that meaningfully impact how matches play out, with the drivable reboot vans a standout addition for co-op action, allowing teams to revive players while on the go. As a regular team player, I love this, with it adding a chaotically fun (and surprisingly effective) element to teamwork in the game.

There’s also a new self-revive item that helps reduces frustration when you get downed yourself, whilst updated knockdown mechanics let players roll to evade attacks instead of helplessly crawling with no hope. These changes go a long way in making being knocked down feel less like an automatic death sentence, and I’ll admit, I’ve taken advantage of it myself on multiple occasions to actually win matches. On the flip-side, when someone has used it against me, I’ve been REALLY annoyed, so it does add an extra layer of nuance to the game where you HAVE to make sure someone really is eliminated before letting your guard down.

The Chapter 7 Season 1 Battle Pass introduces one of the more meaningful progression changes Fortnite has made in a while. As usual, it includes eight new characters to play as, mixing Fortnite originals with some wonderful movie collaborations: The Bride from Kill Bill and Marty McFly from Back to the Future. Both are fantastic additions (and there are Kill Bill-themed quests and special weapons to use in-game), though I won’t lie, I do wish Marty McFly had a prom night skin or even one that references Back to the Future 3… I’m nitpicking, though.

What’s new is how you unlock characters. Instead of being forced to clear pages in a set order, players can now choose which pages to unlock after reaching certain level milestones. The Bride is unlocked immediately, but everything in between is more flexible – if you have a favourite you want to work towards first, you can. It’s a small shift, but it gives players more control over what they unlock, in turn better respecting the time investment it takes to earn them.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Another interesting change is that some cosmetic styles for characters also require playing specific modes rather than just grinding XP, which is a welcome change after plenty of passive progression. It asks players to actually engage with Fortnite’s different modes, though as an active Blitz and Reload player, it hasn’t changed too much for me. It’ll definitely encourage other players to broaden their horizons though, which can only be seen as a good thing – especially since there is a rich selection of modes to try outside of Battle Royale. It’s a season of experimentation then, not only in the gameplay mechanics but also in the modes players will try.

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 is ambitious and experimental, though also occasionally frustrating… your standard new season then, really. Not every change lands perfectly, but the overall direction is really strong, giving something wholly fresh for both new and returning players. There’s been some significant changes made, and whilst I don’t know if they’ll all stick around for the long term, it’s certainly made Fortnite feel unpredictable again. And hey, after so many years, that’s quite an achievement!