Major XP Reduction Hits Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 Progression

What to know

• Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 features a major nerf to XP, reducing rewards across game modes.
• Playtime XP has been cut by nearly 50%, with Save the World XP nerfed by about 70%.
• The XP nerf impacts faster leveling and Battle Pass progression.
• New season unlocks and skins require more focused questing due to these XP changes.

In Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1, Epic Games has implemented a substantial reduction in XP rewards. The cut affects all players, reducing playtime XP by almost half in every game mode. This means players earn significantly less XP just for playing, slowing down their level progression markedly. In addition to playtime XP cuts, Save the World mode XP has been nerfed by around 70%, further limiting XP gains from that mode.

Which means achieving higher levels and unlocking Battle Pass rewards requires more effort and dedicated quest completion. The community has voiced frustration over these changes, noting it is harder to level up compared to previous seasons, impacting casual and hardcore players alike.

Changes to XP sources and milestones

Playtime XP, which was previously a reliable way to accumulate XP steadily even without completing specific objectives, no longer exists in Battle Royale mode as a source of XP. Furthermore, milestones that used to grant additional XP have been removed. Instead, leveling largely depends on completing quests and specific game modes like Blitz and Reload (when available), shifting the focus towards targeted gameplay rather than broad playtime gains.

Weekly caps on XP have also been introduced, merging XP gains from various modes like LEGO and Reload into a combined cap. This limits the potential XP accumulation in any given week, which adds to the slower progression experience.

Impact on Battle Pass and cosmetics unlocking

The Battle Pass progression is notably affected by the XP nerf. Since leveling up grants access to skins, emotes, and items, slower XP gain delays unlocking these rewards. Although Chapter 7 introduces well-known character skins like The Bride from Kill Bill and Marty McFly from Back to the Future, players will need to invest more focus on quests and modes offering quest-related XP to unlock them at a reasonable pace.