Two significant "twists" have been added to this season. Unlike previous seasons where tribes lived at separate camp sites, the two tribes will be living at the same camp together. While the concept of two tribes living at the same camp also appeared in Survivor: Thailand, Survivor: Palau, and Survivor: Fiji, this is the first time it was employed at the beginning of the game for an indefinite amount of time.
The two tribes will also be divided into men and women, which was previously done in Survivor: The Amazon, Survivor: Vanuatu and Survivor: Panama.
The second twist involves the hidden immunity idols. If a castaway finds the idol for their tribe, they can use it for themselves. But if they find the idol for the other tribe, they have to give it to someone on the other tribe
The Redemption Island concept from the previous two seasons will not return for this season, but, according to Jeff Probst in an interview with Entertainment Weekly's Dalton Ross, may return again in the future.
Probst also stated that "Do-It-Yourself" challenges (challenges that would be conducted without the host's supervision) will be conducted at random points during the game.