Forget Battle Royale for a sec—Fortnite Reload just dropped the most cracked crossover since Thanos fist-bumped Peely. Welcome to Squid Grounds, the full-throttle survival mashup that somehow makes “Red Light, Green Light” sweaty again.
New Map, Who Dis?
Launching June 27 at 7 a.m. ET, Squid Grounds isn’t just a novelty island—it’s a full Reload takeover dripping in Netflix aesthetic. We’re talking:
- Giant playgrounds of death (shoutout to The Labyrinth).
- Creepy dorm bunk lobbies with that dystopian vibe.
- “Square Meals” POI that looks like a cafeteria for psychos.
And yes, there’s a piggy bank emote. Of course there is.
This isn’t just some novelty mode either. The devs straight yeeted Oasis from the rotation for the launch weekend (June 27–30). After that, Squid Grounds goes full-time from June 30. It’s not a side mode—it’s the mode now.
Reload, but With IP Rights
There’s something low-key genius about this. Fortnite’s Reload format was already gaining traction—shorter loops, faster fights, and the team respawn twist made it the no-pressure alternative to sweaty Zero Build.
Now? Add a layer of high-stakes, pop-culture paranoia and you’ve got a crossover that actually makes sense. It’s not just “Squid Game with guns”—it’s Squid Game with squad revive mechanics, glider redeploy, and a Boogie Bomb meta.
I didn’t know I needed this. Now I refuse to play anything else.
New Loot, Ranked Reset, Boogie Bomb Chaos
With Squid Grounds comes a mid-season refresh that matters:
- Red-Eye SMG: Finally, a close-mid range hybrid that’s not a total pea shooter.
- Boogie Bombs: Yep, they’re back. Get ready to emo-dance into a shotgun barrel.
- Glider Redeploy: For when verticality matters again (and it will in Squid Grounds).
Also: ranked Reload got hard-reset. You’ll need to play one match in Reload and one in Zero Build to requalify. Which means, yeah, everyone’s deranking for a hot minute. Enjoy those “Platinum” lobbies filled with Bronze chaos.
Competitive Incentives? Epic’s Learning.
June 25 hosted the Squid Grounds Cup, a Reload Duos tournament that handed out exclusive skins and sprays. The Games Guard outfit is peak dystopian-core, and the Masterful Stare spray is the visual equivalent of side-eyeing your last alive teammate hiding in a bush.
Plus: Twitch Drops from June 27–29. Watch, earn, flex. Fortnite is finally getting better at rewarding its audience, not just its whales.
Shop ‘Til You Bleed Candy
8 p.m. ET, June 26: the item shop turns into a Squid Game merch pit.
- Full character pack with names like “Dalgona Destroyer” and “Flying Stone Fighter”. Yes, really.
- Accessories bundle includes a back bling piggy bank and a “Lil’ Prized Piggy Bank” traversal emote.
- And of course, the OG Contestant and Pink Guard fits are back. Approximately 1,200 V-Bucks per piece.
This ain’t nostalgia bait. It’s fandom celebration with good animations.
New Creator Rules: Epic’s Playing Defense, But Smartly
Island Creators got some fresh guidelines too:
- No recreating BR maps (aka stop farming clicks with OG nostalgia).
- No misleading players into favoriting your island (so many shade emojis here).
- All creations must run clean on all platforms—especially relevant now that Squid Grounds is clearly built with mobile play in mind.
Epic’s doubling down on UEFN as a legit game dev platform. These rules suck for clone farmers but great for creators with actual ideas.
Mobile Flex: Blitz Royale Isn’t Just a Side Show
Oh, and while Squid Grounds is stealing the spotlight, don’t sleep on Blitz Royale—a no-build, mythic-heavy, loot-splosion of a mode that’s four times more popular than BR on mobile right now.
Why? It’s custom-fit for phones. 10-minute matches. Smart resource drops. Ability stacking. Blitz might be the actual endgame for Fortnite-on-the-go. And it’s only live till July 15, so get on it.
Final Take: Epic Might’ve Just Out-Epic’d Themselves
This crossover works because it feels right. Reload’s core loop already flirts with chaos—Squid Game just amps that chaos into full-blown paranoia with IP polish and zero cringe.
Is this the best Fortnite mode right now? Honestly, yeah. BR’s gotten sweaty, Zero Build’s been flat. Reload + Squid Grounds hits the sweet spot: familiar mechanics, mad tension, stupid-fun loot chaos. Throw in a low-stakes rank grind and a killer Cup—and we’ve got ourselves a mid-season banger.
🎤 So What’s Your Take?
- Did Reload just steal the Fortnite crown?
- Are the new creator rules a dub or a chokehold?
- Who’s your main: Green Light Guardian or Ddalgi Demon?
