What does hitscan mean in Fortnite?

If you’re wondering what a hitscan weapon in Fortnite is, chances are you’ve just run into the long-running hitscan vs. projectile debate and aren’t sure which side to pick. As complex as it sounds, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. 

Almost every weapon in Fortnite (excluding snipers) embraced the hitscan mechanic until Chapter Five, which, much to the horror of several veteran players, introduced the projectile sand drop concepts. Since then, fans have been divided on whether Epic should bring back hitscan or continue with projectile bullets in the seasons to come.

If you’re new to Fortnite or unaware of what hitscan means, here’s everything you need to know. 

What is hitscan in Fortnite?

A bullet fired from a hitscan weapon in Fortnite exhibits no bullet drop, so it lands on the target or hits the point your crosshair is on at the exact time you fire the weapon. While hitscan is still affected by the Bloom (bullet spread) mechanic, it’s usually much easier to land shots on your enemies at a distance with hitscan guns than projectiles.

Now that you know what hitscan means, let’s discuss what changed in Chapter Five. The update made all Fortnite weapons except shotguns projectile-based, meaning bullets fired now exhibit realistic drops based on distance traveled and delayed registration on the target. So, players have to keep in mind their target’s position and the distance they’re firing the weapons from to hit shots. 

Simply put, none of the ARs, SMGs, and pistols in Fortnite are as accurate as they were before Chapter Five. Shotguns are still hitscan, and so is the Tri-Beam laser rifle. 

While many argue that projectile bullets make Fortnite more realistic, competitive, and fun to play, a significant fraction of the player base isn’t happy with the switch that shook the familiar weapon meta by its core. Most of us were used to the simplicity and reliability of hitscan bullets, which is why players believe projectile bullets have destroyed the essence of Fortnite’s iconic weaponry system This, in addition to some weird movement and Locker UI changes, surely made Chapter Five one of the most controversial updates in the game’s history.

Will hitscan weapons return to Fortnite?

While Epic likely won’t restore things to their previous state, one of the survey options for Fortnite in June asked whether players preferred having hitscan weapons with mods. 

If we were to guess, the devs may be looking for ways to have hitscan and projectile weapons strike a balance. While such a thing could be an apt solution to the community’s concerns about Fortnite losing its identity, it’s just a speculation, so take it with a grain of salt to avoid disappointment.