@Joovainn
player
→ @FortniteStatus
♥ 118
thread
@FortniteStatus So NOTHING about the SBMM changes that were done on December 9th? Why you guys are so quiet about that change?
← The Delta / Topic #967
Epic's response: Explained the decision
EpicTofuChris provides specific design rationale by stating they intentionally "tuned it down" and introduced "more unfairness" to address the reported issues.
@EpicTofuChris: “@rainbearkee @KiriBuilds and we fully acknowledge it makes it harder for noobs and couch co-op type moments b/w family, friends of various skill. we tuned it down a bit, i.e. introduced a bit more unfairness into the system, a few weeks into the change”
12 dev/official replies in our data semantically matched this topic. This is a floor — absence isn't proof of silence.
What players are asking
Urgent Revert of December 9th SBMM Changes
- Macro Player Request: The community is overwhelmingly demanding an immediate revert of the Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM) changes implemented on December 9, 2025, which they perceive as having made casual Battle Royale modes unplayable.
- Pain Points: Players report that lobbies have become excessively "sweaty," resembling competitive FNCS qualifiers rather than casual play, leading to high frustration and demotivation. This has severely impacted social gameplay, with many users stating they can no longer play with friends, family, or partners of varying skill levels, causing friendship groups to fracture and players to uninstall the game. The primary source of anger is not just the gameplay difficulty, but Epic’s perceived silence and lack of acknowledgment regarding this specific issue, which players interpret as intentional neglect.
- Specific Asks:
- Revert SBMM settings to their pre-December 9th state immediately.
- Provide a public statement acknowledging the issue and outlining a plan for adjustment.
- Reduce or disable SBMM intensity in unranked/casual modes to allow for mixed-skill party play.
- Whose Demand: This feedback is driven almost exclusively by ordinary players (casuals, families, and long-time fans). While a few epic_partners (creators) have echoed these sentiments, the volume and emotional intensity come from the general player base who feel alienated by the current matchmaking. There is a clear divergence where creators are often seen by players as benefiting from or ignoring the "sweaty" meta, whereas ordinary players are suffering from the inability to enjoy the game socially.
- Recommendation: Immediate Communication & Tuning: Engineering should prioritize a hotfix or configuration change to dial back SBMM intensity in casual modes, specifically targeting party matchmaking to prevent high-skill players from dominating low-skill friends. Simultaneously, Community Management must break the silence with a transparent update acknowledging the December 9th changes, validating player frustration, and confirming that adjustments are being made. Ignoring this cluster risks significant player churn and reputational damage during the critical holiday season.
Who is asking
player 488unknown 30epic_partner 10
Earliest 10% of this ask: 2025-12-17 — latency is measured from here.
🔧 Closest config Epic actually shipped — from the implementation tracker (build 41.00). Similarity, not a verdict.
Rivalry Legend 9
cos 0.52
text_replacement ++Fortnite+Release-41.00 · 2026-06-06
+TextReplacements=(Category=Game, Namespace="", Key="8D8205164A0B4233E08FF0801D05F461", NativeString="Rivalry Legend 9", LocalizedStrings=(("ar","مُعلّم المنافسة 9"),("en","Rivalry Grandmaster 9"),("de","Rivalitätsgroßmeister 9"),("es","Gran maestría en rivalidad 9"),("es-419","Gran maestría en rivalidad 9"),("fr","Grand maître des rivalités 9"),("id","Grandmaster Rivalitas 9"),("it","Gran Maestro delle Rivalità 9"),("ja","ライバル決闘グランドマスター9"),("ko","라이벌 대격돌 그랜드마스터 9"),("pl","Arcymistrz rywalizacji 9"),("pt-BR","Grão-mestre de Rivalidade 9"),("ru","Великий мастер противостояния 9"),("th","สุดยอดปรมาจารย์ศึกคู่ปรับ 9"),("tr","Büyük Rekabet Ustası 9"),("vi","Đại Cao Thủ Kình Địch 9"),("zh-hans","对决宗师9"),("zh-Hant","宿敵對決宗師 9")))
Updates the Code of Conduct link to point to the new Epic Games community rules page.
cos 0.49
runtime_option ++Fortnite+Release-41.00 · 2026-06-06
AthenaCodeOfConductURL="https://legal.epicgames.com/en-US/epicgames/community-rules?mode=game"
Increases the timeout duration for failed match starts to 360 seconds.
cos 0.49
game_mode_setting ++Fortnite+Release-41.00 · 2026-06-06
FailedToStartMatchTimeout=360.0f
Engine/internal: Updates the URL for the in-game community rules page.
cos 0.49
runtime_option ++Fortnite+Release-41.00 · 2026-06-06
KairosCommunityRulesURL="https://legal.epicgames.com/en-US/epicgames/community-rules?mode=game"
Enables the like/dislike rating option in the single-player exit flow.
cos 0.48
runtime_option ++Fortnite+Release-41.00 · 2026-06-06
bEnableLikeDislikeOptionIn1PExitFlow=true
Restore health to squadmates or regain health
cos 0.48
text_replacement ++Fortnite+Release-41.00 · 2026-06-06
+TextReplacements=(Category=Game, Namespace="", Key="6C63A7344C9E8839E286518566F681AE", NativeString="Restore health to squadmates or regain health", LocalizedStrings=(("ar","استعد الصحة"),("en","Restore health"),("de","Kondition wiederherstellen"),("es","Recupera salud"),("es-419","Recupera vida"),("fr","Regagner des PV"),("id","Pulihkan HP"),("it","Ripristina salute"),("ja","体力を回復する"),("ko","체력 회복"),("pl","Przywróć zdrowie"),("pt-BR","Restaure Vida"),("ru","Восстановите здоровье"),("th","ฟื้นฟูพลังชีวิต"),("tr","Can doldur"),("vi","Hồi HP"),("zh-hans","恢复生命值"),("zh-Hant","恢復生命值")))
💬 The actual posts — top by engagement
@Joovainn
player
→ @FortniteStatus
♥ 107
thread
@FortniteStatus What about balancing the SBMM?
@buplo12345
unknown
→ @FortniteStatus
♥ 91
thread
@FortniteStatus I hope this is a test to make sbmm better as its been terrible since chapter 4
@Joovainn
player
→ @JustTeddii
♥ 81
thread
@JustTeddii @HYPEX @SypherPK Anything else but fixing the SBMM that literally so many people have complained about. Can you guys literally revert the SBMM changes that were done on December 9th 2025? Are you guys intentionally (you are) ignore our complains? Please fox SBMM i want to enjoy Fortnite again.
@FreezerRebooted
player
→ @FortniteStatus
♥ 65
thread
@FortniteStatus Still haven’t addressed SBMM
@fortniteop14
player
→ @FortniteStatus
♥ 61
thread
@FortniteStatus Not only was SBMM not adjusted, but based on this article— you don’t even plan to address it next update. wtf is going on?
@CobaltKnight26
player
→ @JustTeddii
♥ 50
thread
@JustTeddii @SypherPK Respectfully dude. I've waited two months for the SBMM to be ACKNOWLEDGED by someone at Epic. I understand things take time, but no one at Epic acknowledging it, to the point of even being BANNED for mentioning it in the Fortnite Discord Server.
I'm done. I'm out.
@DragonGamingDB
player
♥ 45
thread
Now please fix your SBMM. Why are you intentionally ignoring the community who has asked for it to be reverted to the way it was before it was changed in chapter 7?
There have been enough people asking for the change where it's become clear that Fortnite has decided to ignore us about it.
@Joovainn
player
→ @FortniteStatus
♥ 45
thread
@FortniteStatus Umm can you guys like revert the SBMM changes that were done on December 9th 2025. Fortnite has been ny favorite game in the last 5 and half years i have played this actively but since December 9th i just lost all the motivation cause of the SBMM chabges and games are so sweaty.
@VersaFN8
player
→ @FortniteStatus
♥ 45
thread
@FortniteStatus Adjusted SBMM so its fun for everyone, and not just your favourite 100 fncs players.
Oh no its still the same..
Problems will keep happening until you guys fix it..
@bruvetti
player
→ @FortniteStatus
♥ 44
thread
@FortniteStatus Fix the SBMM. Nobody can enjoy the game right now, especially casual players. It's insufferable. @Fortnite @FortniteStatus
@bruvetti
player
→ @FortniteStatus
♥ 43
thread
@FortniteStatus Fix the SBMM. Nobody can enjoy the game right now! Especially casual players. Have a look at it so we can play the game in fairness. @FortniteStatus @Fortnite