Fortnite
Fortnite
Fortnite V-Bucks prices increased, here are the new prices
Fariha Bhatti
The global inflation is so profound that it’s even making waves in Fortnite’s virtual world. Epic has confirmed that prices of V-Bucks will go up in Fortnite. Epic Games is here to shatter your dreams of virtual wealth in Fortnite’s Zero Reality, amidst the back-breaking real-world inflation. Being rich in Fortnite is now a far-fetched dream, set aside for those with stacked credit cards because V-Bucks are skyrocketing in price …
Fortnite
Epic Games layoffs include 830 employees
Olivia Richman
Despite Fortnite’s continued popularity, Epic Games has laid off almost 900 employees. In an official letter to employees and the public, CEO Tim Sweeney stated that 16% of employees were being laid off since the company has been “spending way more money than we earn” in an attempt to invest in the “next evolution” of Epic Games, largely Fortnite and its metaverse. “I had long been optimistic that we could …
Fortnite
These are the best weapons in Fortnite Season 4
Nicholas James
The final portion of 2023’s Fortnite Chapters is finally here, and these are the best Fortnite weapons and equipment that are available in Season 4. Fortnite likes to regularly update its game with new areas, mechanics, weapons and equipment. Season 4 of this year’s Chapter has been no different. Lots of new tools for players have hit the Island this Season, and we’re here to pick out the very best …
Fortnite
Campus Corner in Creative Hub brings new maps, game modes
Olivia Richman
Fortnite has introduced a new feature called Campus Corner in the Creative Hub. A brand new Creative Hub has arrived in Fortnite known as Campus Corner. Created by Creative Map team 404 Creative, Campus Corner has seven competitive maps and multiple game modes. Here’s everything you know about Campus Corner in Fortnite. Campus Corner provides a variety of competitive game options for Fortnite players, including collegiate esports hopefuls. The Campus …
Fortnite
Is there going to be a Fortnite movie?
Olivia Richman
A well known director has taken notice of Fortnite, admitting that it could be explored in a movie. Fast X director Louis Leterrier recently attended the director’s panel at San Diego Comic-Con and was asked about his thoughts on a Fortnite movie. Leterrier replaced Justin Lin on Fast X and is also going to be directing the 2025 sequel, which is sure to be more over the top than ever …
Fortnite
Everything we know about Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 4
Nicholas James
Fortnite Wilds has uncovered a huge swath of the island, which leaves fans wondering exactly what’s in store for Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 4. Fortnite divides every year into its own “Chapter”, which lasts the whole year round. Each Chapter is divided into four Seasons, which make up the four quarters of the year. Each Season brings huge updates to the map, mechanics, and more for Fortnite players to enjoy. …
Fortnite
How to unlock every Fortnite Wilds temple
Nicholas James
The loot temples in Fortnite Wilds are one of the best ways to get high-tier loot, so here’s how to unlock every single Fortnite Wild temple. The loot temples are an addition as a part of the latest season of Fortnite, dubbed Fortnite Wilds. These are huge stone buildings in the new jungle biome that can seem cryptic and confusing during your first time navigating their halls. Some might be …
Fortnite
Fortnite streamer has car burned by alleged stalker
Nicholas James
A Fortnite streamer had her car burned in her driveway by an alleged stalker, according to a YouTube video released by the entertainer Kylee “Justfoxii” Carter. Justfoxii is a Twitch streamer and YouTuber who focuses on Fortnite gameplay. Earlier this week, she published a video on YouTube detailing a frightening incident that took place at her home. In the video, Justfoxii shows video proof of the terrifying arson and discloses …
How to get free Winged Cavalry Back Bling in Fortnite
Nicholas James
Fortnite
There’s a fancy new free cosmetic in Fortnite, so here’s how to claim your very own Winged Cavalry Back Bling in Fortnite. Fortnite Community Battles is an initiative to introduce the Fortnite community to new experiences and encourage them to share in the fun. This time, there’s a custom map with an associated quest. Competing in battles on the selected community map and getting enough eliminations will reward fans with …
All the big changes coming in Fortnite Wilds
Nicholas James
Fortnite
The Fortnite island has gone prehistoric, so load up your Indiana Jones skin and get ready to ride a velociraptor in Fortnite Wilds. The center of Fortnite’s island has collapsed, revealing a long-forgotten prehistoric jungle full of ancient temples, dinosaurs, and even a new Mythic item. These are all of the changes in Fortnite Wilds on release day. The new season of Fortnite arriving marks Chapter 4 Season 3 of …
Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 3 teases ancient ruins
Nicholas James
Fortnite
Fortnite is one of the most regularly updated AAA games, and a trailer reveals teases at the theme for Chapter 4 Season 3 of Fortnite. Fortnite splits its years into chapters with four seasons. These quarterly seasons take fans on exciting new journeys alongside updates to the island. A newly released teaser trailer has given fans their first look at what the next season might look like. This Chapter has …
How to find and use Spider-Man Web Shooters in Fortnite
Nicholas James
Fortnite
The Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse event has hit Fortnite, so here’s how to find and use the Spider-Man Web Shooters. Fortnite loves to introduce thematic items for players to wield during tie-in events with other IPs. The new Across the Spiderverse event is no exception to this. This tie-in event with the new animated movie has unvaulted a Mythic item from Fortnite’s past, the Web Shooters. Here’s how to find …
Everything we know about the Fortnite ranked mode
Nicholas James
Fortnite
Fortnite is finally getting an official ranked ladder, and here are all of the details you need to know about the new Fortnite ranked mode before you start your climb. Despite having an esports scene, Fortnite hasn’t had a mainstream ranked mode available for a long time. The closest thing fans could get was Arena modes, which were considered separate from normal queues. The addition of the new Ranked mode …
Everything we know about Fortnite Season 3
Nicholas James
Fortnite
The next Fortnite season is rapidly approaching, but what can fans expect from the next quarterly installment in Epic Games’ hit battle royale? Fortnite Chapter 4 has focused on an alternate version of Fortnite’s island, stitched together from fragments of various dimensions. This is why the island has such varied terrain, mixed time periods of buildings, and portals opening up and spitting out a wide variety of NPCs. This seems …
When does Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 2 end?
Nicholas James
Fortnite
Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 2 has taken Fortnite into a Cyberpunk Neo-Tokyo aesthetic, but when will it end, and what can fans expect? Every calendar year of Fortnite is divided up into four Seasons, one for each quarter of the year. This year, each season has seen Fortnite’s island change with a new dimension modifying the map. From the Oathbound castles and keeps to the Fortnite MEGA cyberpunk cities, Epic …
How to unlock free Fortnite Mile Morales items
Nicholas James
Fortnite
Spiderman has returned to Fortnite, and this time Miles Morales is taking center stage, here’s how to unlock the free Fortnite Miles Morales items. The free Fortnite Miles Morales and Spiderman 2099 rewards are available through the Web Battles event. The Web Battles event is a registration-only event that you have to log into in order to participate. Ahead of the new Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse movie, it follows the …
Fortnite Ranked mode coming tomorrow in v24.40
Olivia Richman
Fortnite
Fortnite is getting a big update tomorrow but a lot of the details are already available — and 24.40 is bringing a lot of changes. Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 2 is coming to an end but an update is still on its way: v24.40. It will drop Wednesday, May 17, 2023 and will come with a bit of downtime. Fortnite players can expect a few hours of downtime but the …
Fortnite is now officially an Olympic esport
Nicholas James
Fortnite
Fortnite is officially an Olympic sport, with a Fortnite shooting challenge being added into the Olympic Esports Finals. Recently, the Olympics announced that it would be recognizing esports an official way by hosting the Olympic Esports Finals. It’s recently been announced that a custom Fortnite shooting challenge will be hosted by the Olympics during this event. Twelve players from the Fortnite Champion Series, Fortnite’s esports circuit, will compete for the …
Republic Chest Fortnite locations
Nicholas James
Fortnite
The Find The Force Star Wars event has brought Republic Chests to Fortnite, which hold an exclusive item, these are all their locations. Fortnite loves collaborating with other IPs. Star Wars is the latest franchise to take over Epic Games’ battle royale island. Part of this includes a Mythic weapon, the Clone Troopers’ signature blaster rifle. This is the only way to guarantee to get yourself a blaster rifle. If …
New Star Wars Fortnite skins allegedly leaked
Nicholas James
Fortnite
It seems like Epic Games is testing new Star Wars Fortnite skins, according to rumors from Fortnite leakers. Star Wars has taken over Fortnite recently, with Force Powers, Lightsabers, and skins aplenty. With an ongoing event, it seems like there’s more content just around the corner for the new Fortnite event. Fortnite often adds test assets under code names, and it seems like more Sith might be on their way. …
Fortnite has come a long way over the course of the game’s lifespan. What began as an upstart early-access title with base-building mechanics would eventually transform into the world’s most popular and lucrative video game, capturing the attention of millions upon millions of players across the world and entering into the mainstream cultural lexicon.
But how exactly did that happen? How did one of many games released by developer Epic Games manage to transform in real-time into something with such potential, and to what extent did Fortnite really grow? The answers are indicative of what it takes for a game to go from new and struggling to becoming a global phenomenon.
The original vision for Fortnite was very different compared to the game that is so widely popular today. Developers at Epic Games intended to create a game that would merge base-building mechanics with the popular shooting gameplay that the company was best known for, from its experience releasing such titles those found in the Unreal Tournament and Gears of War franchises.
While that vision was altered even prior to Fortnite’s initial release, with a darker creative look becoming brighter and more reminiscent of children’s cartoons, the first release of Fortnite did feature that original focus. Titled Fortnite: Saves the World, this was a paid early-access release that met moderate fanfare and player enthusiasm.
A follow-up release would do far better. That follow-up was Fortnite Battle Royale, a free-to-play version of the game that featured the core mechanics and experience players most associate with the Fortnite name today. The battle royale game mode, thrown together in just a couple of months by developers, was at the time a relatively new concept. A multitude of players would be dropped onto one map to do battle with each other, accruing resources and weaponry in an open-world environment to better equip themselves for combat. Eventually, the game’s playable map size would shrink over time, forcing players to engage with each other until only one winning player was left standing.
It’s a simple concept, but in 2017 it was fresh and new. Players quickly flocked to try this early battle royale game, and within weeks of its free-to-play release, Fortnite Battle Royale was playing host to millions of players.
First and foremost, the success of Fortnite can be seen in the extreme revenue numbers generated by the game for maker Epic Games. Just a few short years after its release, Fortnite had already led to billions of dollars in revenue for Epic. This success was enough to send reverberations throughout the entire video game industry. Dozens of clones would follow, trying to recapture the battle royale magic that Fortnite had so successfully crystallized, but it proved difficult for most.
Money wasn’t the only marker of the game’s ascendance, however. Fortnite broached popular mainstream culture in a way that few video games ever have. Popular streamer and former Halo pro Tyler “Ninja” Blevins was at the fore of this wave of popularity, co-streaming with rap superstar Drake and appearing on numerous television talk shows to discuss the game and the craze surrounding it. Popular musicians beyond Drake also got involved with the game, as Travis Scott and Marshmello hosted live, in-game concerts to both popular and critical acclaim.
The Fortnite World Cup raised the game’s profile even further in some circles. Held at the famous Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City, the event awarded $3 million to 16-year-old phenom Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf, who then found himself paraded through mainstream media circles just as Ninja had been before him.
While its apex may have come and gone, Fortnite remains one of the most popular and successful games in the world today, continuing to play host to many millions of players while generating major revenues for Epic Games.
