Fortnite’s Zero Build mode has new strategies — but the same loot. Why?

polygon.com:

Fortnite is famous for its globally interactive community events, and recently the battle royale game hosted one that placed the destiny of two items in the hands of its players. The two items — simple party balloons and a bubble shield reminiscent of Halo 3 — had been in Fortnite’s vault, but this event allowed players to vote on which one would get unvaulted. In the end, most of the votes went to the balloons, a weapon that some say is perfect for the game’s Build mode, though it’s much less optimal than the shield for Zero Build mode players. This thought, along with complaints from players stating that such votes in the future should be split between the two modes, got me thinking about why Fortnite doesn’t operate that way — or at least not yet.

Fortnite’s Zero Build and Build modes are two very different worlds. Certain weapons and strategies are more prevalent and useful in one than the other. For instance, in Zero Build, the current top-tier loadout according to many is a simple drum shotgun and striker burst rifle backed up with two heals and a movement tool like a jetpack (which is largely seen as useless in Build mode). Meanwhile, on the Build side, it’s all about grabbing a striker pump shotgun, an SMG, two heals, and either a long-range weapon or shockwave grenades.

So, why isn’t there any difference in the loot pool and voting systems of these two differing game types? According to Fortnite communications staffer Cass Reynoso, Epic Games aims to keep the game types one to one with each other.

Zero Build is the same as Fortnite’s original mode for its battle royale, minus the building mechanic. Players who enjoy both modes get the benefit of shared progression, gold bars, quests, and all of that, allowing