BTLO Updates - FAQs

We’re updating how BTLO is structured for labs, rankings and the leaderboard to make the platform easier to navigate, fairer to compete on, and better for long-term learning

• There will be 15 active labs at any one time that will be free to play.
• Labs will be rotated regularly and then retired into BTLO Pro.
• Over 150 labs will retire and move into BTLO Pro on May 1 2026.
• Going forward points for leaderboard positions can only be earned on the 15 free-to-play active labs. 
• Scoring for lab completion will be scaled depending on difficulty, ensuring points reflect the level of the challenge.

BTLO has grown significantly, with a large number of labs available across the platform. While that depth is valuable, it can make it harder to know where to focus and how to progress. It has also meant write-ups could not be shared, as labs have not been retired.

In addition, the current leaderboard structure means that some users have had access to a broader set of active labs over time. So only being able to compete on the 15 free-to-play active labs makes it fairer to compete. 

There will be 15 free to play active labs at any one time, split across difficulty levels:

• 3 Very Easy
• 4 Easy
• 4 Medium
• 3 Hard
• 1 Epic

Keeping a smaller number of active labs ensures it’s clear where to focus, keeps content fresh through regular rotation and ensures a good mix of difficulties and makes for fairer for competition. 

When a new lab is released within a difficulty level, the oldest lab in that category will be retired. This keeps the active set fresh while maintaining a consistent balance across difficulties.

Retired labs are not being removed. They will move into BTLO Pro, where they will be available as a much larger catalogue of labs for learning including write-ups. 

No. Your progress and completions will remain in place. Completed labs will continue to be visible, and any that are retired will move into the retired labs section. 

No. All active labs will be free to play. This ensures that everyone competing on the leaderboard is working from the same set of active labs. 

Your rank, e.g Guardian or Trainee Defender, will now be affected by both active and retired labs. This means that with a BTLO Pro subscription, completing retired lab will help you build skills, earn more points and move up the ranks. Previously, ranks were only affected by points from active labs. Your current ranking may change due to the release of four new labs instead of the usual one lab.

This change does not affect the leaderboard, which will continue to be based on active labs only.

No. Completed labs in BTLO Pro will not impact leaderboard positions. It is designed to support learning, practice, and skill development outside of active competition. 

Scoring is now standardised across difficulties, creating a more consistent progression as you move through labs. Scoring will be as follows;

• Very Easy: up to 15 points
• Easy: up to 25 points
• Medium: up to 50 points
• Hard: up to 100 points
• Epic: up to 130 points

No. There are no pricing changes to BTLO Pro subscriptions as part of this update. 

Yes, these will stay on your profile and will not be removed. Only the completionist badge will be removed as they have been previously. 

Yes, once labs are retired you can do a write-up. 

We’ve been working on these changes for some time and have discussed them with the community, including some of the top leaderboard players. Feedback across these discussions has been positive.