Fortnite
Fortnite
How to find the Jaeger’s Family Basement in Fortnite
Nicholas James
There’s a huge Attack on Titan crossover in Fortnite MEGA right now, and one quest requires fans to find where the Jaeger’s Family Basement is hiding on the map. Eren Jaeger is the protagonist of Attack on Titan, and his skin is locked behind several themed quests tied to the new event. These quests require players who have purchased the Battle Pass to complete them before unlocking the Attack on …
Fortnite
How to find and use the Fortnite Thunder Spear
Nicholas James
The Attack on Titan Fortnite event has introduced two important new items in the ODM gear and the Thunder Spear weapon, so here’s how to put the Thunder Spear to good use. The Thunder Spear is a new Mythic Item in Fortnite added to the game by the Attack on Titan event that coincides with the release of several Attack on Titan skins. The Thunder Spear is a rocket launcher-type …
Fortnite
Fortnite welcomes Coachella with stylish skins
Fariha Bhatti
Epic is making Coachella accessible for all with its latest collaboration, bringing Bad Bunny, Burna Boy, new skins, and emotes. Epic has a history of pulling off insane crossovers. From Marvel to Ariana Grande, the Fortnite developer has done it all. Epic is eyeing Coachella this time as it announces an in-game virtual music festival that lets players buy reactive items and skins. Fortnite’s Coachella festival begins on April 14 …
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
What is UEFN, Unreal Editor for Fortnite
Nicholas James
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 …
Fortnite
Creative 2.0 will change Fortnite forever
Nicholas James
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 …
Fortnite
What is a Nitro Drifter in Fortnite?
Nicholas James
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 …
Fortnite
XP Maps in Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 2 explained
Nicholas James
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 …
How to unlock the Fortnite Creed skin and free rewards
Nicholas James
Fortnite
Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 1 is nearly at an end, and Epic Games is going for the knockout blow with a Fortnite Creed collaboration. Here’s how to get the skin and free rewards. Fortnite seems to be collaborating with every media property on the face of the earth. The battle royale is coming fresh off of Dragon Ball and My Hero Academia tie-ins with cosmetics from hit Rocky spinoff series …
What is new in Fortnite patch v23.50?
William Davis
Fortnite
Fortnite is implementing major improvements to Creative and Save the World with changes dropping in patch V23.50. In case you didn’t know, Fortnite is more than building, staying within the circle, and emoting on your dead enemies. The game has two additional modes for players to explore, Fortnite Creative and Fortnite Save the World. While these are not as popular as Battle Royale, these allow players to explore the Fortnite …
Attack on Titan Fortnite skins leaked in next Battle Pass
Nicholas James
Fortnite
Details about the Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 2 Battle Pass have been allegedly leaked online, and Attack on Titan Fortnite skins seem to be coming. Fortnite has an incredible number of tie-ins with other media properties, from television shows to movies to other video games to some of the most popular anime in the world. It seems that the next season is going to include yet another incredibly popular anime …
The best Exotic weapons in Fortnite Most Wanted
Nicholas James
Fortnite
The Fortnite Most Wanted event has completely changed how Fortnite is played since it began, here are the best Exotic weapons during the event. The Cold-Blooded Syndicate has hit Fortnite’s island, and they’ve set up vaults protected by bosses and mooks filled with huge rewards. As a part of this event, several new Heisted Exotic weapons have been introduced. Here are the Heisted exotic weapons that have impressed us the …
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.
