Want to feel old? Fortnite turned five this year. That’s right, everyone’s favourite Battle Royale-inspired video game has been around for half a decade, and in that time, it has never been far from gaming headlines.
Since the game was released in July 2017, it has become a cultural phenomenon. No game, outside of Minecraft, has had the quite impact that Fortnite has on the current generation of gamers, so what is it that has kept it on top of the pile for so long?
Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite, are industry veterans. The company found success early doors with franchises like Unreal and Gears of War, but it feels as though it found the jewel in its crown with Fortnite.
While online battle-royale-style games were nothing new, Fortnite managed to put a new twist on things. Firstly, it was free, which was something that would have no doubt helped it get noticed, but there are plenty of free games out there and none of them has come close to the success of Fortnite.
The ability to customise characters, purchase clothes, and dance moves, as well as win in-game currencies to do so, really seemed to capture the imagination of the general public. Within months of the game’s release, Fortnite dances were being performed by Premier League footballers as celebrations, and the game was everywhere you looked.
The use of Chapters and Seasons has also proven to be a masterstroke. The launch of a new Chapter feels like an event, similar to the release of a big-blockbuster movie or the return of a much-loved TV series. It has changed the way other companies approach their marketing strategy around games, hoping to capture that same lightning in a bottle.
As with anything successful, Fortnite was a classic example of being in the right place at the right time. Streaming platforms like Twitch were thoroughly in the ascendancy in 2017, and Youtube stars were becoming increasingly mainstream. This thrust the game into the spotlight, and before we knew it, tournaments were being held online with huge cash prizes on offer.
Within two years, the first-ever Fortnite World Cup took place, with the winner of the tournament taking home an impressive $30AUD as prize money.
In the time since its launch, Fortnite has also become a merchandising machine. Head to any game store and you will find plush toys, t-shirts, backpacks, and just about everything else you can think of with the game’s name on it. The imagery of Fortnite is now as recognisable as the likes of Mario, Sonic, and Pikachu.
Unlike those three names though, the game has yet to be given a chance in Hollywood. This seems to be a natural progression for Fortnite though, with rumours swirling about a live-action outing for some time. There has also been a substantial number of crossovers in the Fortnite universe, with the likes of Thanos, Batman, and The Witcher all making appearances. All of which only adds more fuel to the movie speculations.
There are also potential cross-overs that we could see. The online casino world is booming now, as demonstrated at Neonvegas.com and with games like Call of Duty and Hitman having made successful pokies in the past. It might not be long before we see Peely spinning around the reels.
Fortnite’s Chapter Four was launched in December 2022, topping off what has been another huge year for the franchise. The continued success of the game is assured, with plenty more crossovers and potential spin-offs in the pipeline. At five years old, Fortnite still manages to find ways to feel like one of the freshest and most exciting products on the market. Here’s to the next five!
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