Fortnite
Fortnite
Submachine Gun unvaulted in Fortnite
Nicholas James
The Submachine Gun has been unvaulted in Fortnite, and this relic of the past is ready to change the game. Fortnite keeps a steady stream of new content flowing throughout any given season, adding brand-new features and reviving some of the bygone aspects of the game. The latest feature to be re-added to the game is the original short-range and rapid-fire weapon, the Submachine Gun. The Submachine Gun has been …
Fortnite
New Star Wars Fortnite event leaked
Nicholas James
A new Star Wars Fortnite event is apparently coming to the live servers quite soon, so here’s everything you need to know. Fortnite collaborates with all sorts of prominent IPs, from Marvel to anime series like Dragon Ball Z, and even Star Wars. Denizens from a galaxy far, far away have made their onto Fortnite’s island. The Jedi and Sith will be returning to Epic Games’ battle royale, and it …
Fortnite
Are Last of Us Fortnite skins coming?
Nicholas James
Fortnite is full of all sorts of pop culture crossovers, but are Last of Us Fortnite skins a possibility? Donald Mustard, the Chief Creative Officer at Epic Games, was recently at an event where he was asked about the possibility of collaborating with Naughty Dog to bring The Last of Us to Fortnite. Fans of the hit narrative adventure games will be happy to hear that Joel and Ellie making …
Fortnite
How to beat the Eren Jaeger quests in Fortnite
Nicholas James
The Attack on Titan event is taking over Fortnite, and if you want to unlock the tie-in skin, you’ll have to beat the Eren Jaeger quests. Fortnite is chock full of anime collaborations, and Attack on Titan is the latest one to take over the game with items, cosmetics, and more. A key part of that event is a new Battle Pass. It includes a secret Eren Jaeger skin that’s …
Fortnite
How to find and use the Fortnite ODM Gear Mythic Item
Nicholas James
The ODM Gear from Attack on Titan is completely changing the game, here’s how to find and use the Fortnite ODM Gear Mythic Item in Fortnite MEGA. The Attack on Titan event in Fortnite has added several new tools for players to use in their games of Fortnite. The most game-changing of these is the Omni-directional Mobility gear, straight from the anime. This is an incredibly limited-usage mobility Mythic Item …
Fortnite
All we know about the Coachella X Fortnite event
Olivia Richman
Fortnite players will soon be able to visit Coachella Island, which will include art installations, merch, and minigames. The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is one of the biggest music events of the year. And it’s returning to Fortnite thanks to a partnership that includes concerts and cosmetics. Coachella Island is coming to Fortnite’s Creative mode on Friday, April 14, at 12 PM PST. Coachella Island is a virtual …
News
Mikasa and Levi are joining Eren in Fortnite with fierce skins
Fariha Bhatti
Great news for fans of Attack on Titan! Mikasa and Captain Levi are swinging into Fortnite maps very soon. The Attack on Titan and Fortnite collaboration was long due, with Epic teasing the Eren Yeager silhouette in the Chapter 4 Season 2 battle pass. But, the main protagonist won’t be the only one joining the battle arena. Fortnite’s islands will be scattered with Survey Cops fighting alongside the other characters …
Fortnite
The best Fortnite Creative 2.0 maps and their codes
Fariha Bhatti
Fortnite Creative 2.0 is finally live, which means talented players are at it to develop immersive islands in Unreal Engine 5. Creative mode in Fortnite has always been popular among fans. The sandbox-style game mode allows players to build, explore, and design unique creations on an island without the pressure of enemies or time limits. With unlimited resources, the possibilities are endless — Creative 2.0 is an advanced version that …
What is UEFN, Unreal Editor for Fortnite
Nicholas James
Fortnite
Fortnite is changing forever with this new addition to the game, but what is UEFN, Unreal Editor for Fortnite? Fortnite’s creative expression has been a huge draw for people creating custom game experiences, and it’s only going to get better. Recently, at the State of Unreal live stream, Epic Games unveiled a huge new step forwards for the game. It’s a modified version of the Unreal Engine that will open …
Creative 2.0 will change Fortnite forever
Nicholas James
Fortnite
Epic Games recently announced a massive update to Fortnite’s custom gameplay editor, here’s why Creative 2.0 promises to change Fortnite forever. Fortnite’s Creative mode is how creative players and members of the community have been tailoring new experiences, game modes, and the like for Epic Games’ battle royale. Recently, Epic Games announced a massive change to Creative with the launch of Creative 2.0. The new gameplay editor unleashes a modified …
What is a Nitro Drifter in Fortnite?
Nicholas James
Fortnite
The new Fortnite season has brought tons of exciting items and mechanics, as well as new vehicles, but what is a Nitro Drifter in Fortnite and how can you use it? Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 2, or Fortnite: MEGA, is the latest season to hit Epic Games’ flagship battle royale. The new season brought a Japanese cyberpunk flair to the southeastern corner of the island and tons of new items …
XP Maps in Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 2 explained
Nicholas James
Fortnite
XP Maps in Fortnite are a huge part of making sure players get the rewards they want from a season’s Battle Pass, regardless of how much they play. Fortnite locks cosmetic items behind certain Battle Pass levels each season, including Chapter 4 Season 2. This includes the much-coveted extra rewards that add premium spins to cosmetics in the regular Battle Pass. The simple truth is that plenty of players don’t …
$245 million Fortnite FTC fine finalized
Nicholas James
Fortnite
The Federal Trade commission has locked in a $245 million settlement from Epic Games, here’s what you need to know about the Fortnite FTC fine. It was announced in December of 2022 that the FTC was fining Fortnite over $500 million for two separate complaints with developer and publisher Epic Games’ conduct. $275 million over COPPA, Childrens’ Online Privacy Protection Act, violations, and another $245 million for the use of …
The best new Augments in Fortnite Chapter 4
Nicholas James
Fortnite
Fortnite’s new season has brought new weapons, locations, and perhaps most importantly, new Augments, here are the best Augments in Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 2. Fortnite’s new season has brought a new list of Augments, which will be expanded as the season progresses. Some are returning from Season One, others are brand new to the game for Season Two. If you’re looking for exactly which Augments will serve you best …
The 3 best Fortnite weapons in Chapter 4 Season 2
Nicholas James
Fortnite
A new season of Fortnite has arrived, and there are tons of new to use, here are the three best Fortnite weapons in Chapter 4, Season 2. Epic Games loves to bring sweeping changes to its flagship battle royale game. This means tons of new weapons at the start of every season. The new Japanese cyberpunk-inspired Fortnite MEGA is no exception. Epic Games is bringing tons of new weapons to …
How to dominate with the Kinetic Blade katana
Nicholas James
Fortnite
The new Fortnite season, Fortnite MEGA, has arrived, and the Kinetic Blade katana is changing the landscape of the game. Here’s how to destroy your enemies using it. The Kinetic Blade katana is a wildly powerful new item added to Fortnite in Chapter 4 Season 2. The Kinetic Blade is a melee weapon with two modes of attack, the Knockback Slash and the Dash Attack. Just like the Shockwave Hammer …
The best new places to drop in Fortnite MEGA
Nicholas James
Fortnite
The new season of Fortnite is here, so here are some of the best new places to drop in Fortnite MEGA. Fortnite’s new season has dropped, and a brand new Japanese cyberpunk aesthetic has taken over the southeastern portion of the island. This has introduced several new locations and Points of Interest, and it can be hard to figure out just exactly where is best to begin your game. Here …
Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 2 trailer reveals cyberpunk
Nicholas James
Fortnite
Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 2 is nearly upon us, and the brand new cinematic trailer is bringing lots of details about the upcoming cyberpunk-ified season of Epic Games’ battle royale. The new cinematic trailer has just gone live, and we’re getting our first confirmation of several rumors about the new season. From an Attack on Titan crossover to new ways to get around the map and even hints at new …
New cyberpunk Fortnite season lands this week
Nicholas James
Fortnite
A brand new season is coming to Fortnite Chapter 4, and rumor has it that cyberpunk Fortnite will be ushered in by Season 2, here’s what you need to know. The current Fortnite season will come to a close on March 9 at 11 PM PST, ushering in a new season on the 10th. The new season is being dubbed Fortnite Mega and will supposedly bring a distinct cyberpunk theme …
Fortnite FPS mode is ready to drop
William Davis
Fortnite
The Fortnite FPS mode is dropping soon. Reliable sources have confirmed that this new mode is ready for shipping. Fortnite rise to popularity in 2017 with its innovative and fun gameplay. The game catapulted celebrities to stardom and had a thriving competitive scene with prize pools never seen before. While the hype has somewhat died down, the game remains as popular as ever. In 2023, it seems like Fortnite is …
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.
