Video games are a form of media that have been evolving and growing throughout the years. With older generations sharing their experiences with their children, and the younger generations experiencing the changing technology, it connects everyone. There are games throughout the years that take the world by storm. In late 2017 up to now, Fortnite has been that game. But what led to Fortnite’s uprising in only a few months? Its success can be attributed to an interest in a new game genre, a change in mechanics, and the growth of ESports.

A RISE TO FAME

In 2014, Fortnite came out with its first trailer, as a zombie survival game in which players built forts to fight the hordes with. It took three years for the game to release, and in July 2017, the world was able to play Fortnite. Although there was a reasonable fan base, most did not care for a zombie survival game, so its survival mode didn’t really live up to the hype it originally had. At the time of Fortnite’s release, another game, PUBG, took the world by storm. Its focus was a 100 man battle royale, in which players picked up weapons to then defeat each other with. Such a game mode was exciting for a lot of people, as it engaged users in tactical battles against one another. Fortnite’s creators, Epic Games, saw this as an opportunity to help grow the fanbase of their game. So, only two months after release, Fortnite released Battle Royale, which destroyed PUBG’s monopoly on the genre.

OLD DOG, NEW TRICKS

Fortnite’s take on the battle royale genre is unique from its competitors. It not only includes guns and rockets and consumables, but a complex building mechanic. Players gather resources through trees, cars, rocks, houses, etc. to then build with. Theses structures can be used to gain higher ground from enemies, protect oneself while healing, or to rush opponents and get the advantage. Building is essential to obtaining victory, because its available to everyone, and some players have become more skilled at building rather than gunfights. It breaks away from the basic running  and gunning gameplay by allowing players to gain vertical ground and get a kill from above or a shotgun blast from below. Players can combine their weapon accuracy, along with their ability to build, to rack up kills and ultimately see “#1 Victory Royale!” appears as their character begins to dance.

ESPORTS: A NEW COMPETITION

Finally, ESports have been growing as games and their fan bases grow as well. They are competitive gaming competitions in which teams try to win in to get large pools of money. ESports can be traced as far back as the days of Halo 2 (2004), but they recently gained traction from Call of Duty in 2012. Pools of money have gone for different competitive games totaled to be about 121 million dollars! Fortnite has taken advantage of its large games by bringing in its best players to battle it out in its skirmishes. It excites everyone as streamers from across the world get together to support each other and fight to entertain. Viewers can see their favorite streamers fight and win against their friends. Hundreds of thousands of viewers tune into the Fall Skirmishes to see players win hundreds of thousands of dollars!

FREE DONE RIGHT

Fortnite became one of the most famous games of 2017, and possibly 2018 due to the growing appreciation of games who take design and passion over cost and glory. It has become the game it is today due to the growth of interest in battle royale games, the new and fresh mechanics introduced in it, and a changing environment in the world of ESports. Although it began as a totally different game, it proved that companies can adapt to the changing market of video games and entertainment. It was also able to succeed with a low price of zero dollars and zero cents. It does to show that even something that is free can succeed, as long as it is entertaining and worth the public’s time.