Arabella Asis Games 11.05.2023 23:Nov PM EST

Fortnite's Comeback to Popularity, Explained

Released by Epic Games in 2017, Fortnite is known for its battle royale mode which became a breakout success for the company. Due to its free-to-play model, the game quickly gained attention from players and streamers which resulted in massive popularity.

However, Fortnite met challenges after its peak with lots of other games coming into the market offering the same gameplay but with a different experience. Some OG Fortnite gamers started to distance away from the game and some popular streamers decided to forego streaming the game on their channel gradually.

(Photo : Epic Games)

Fortnite Team Brings Back OG Map

With the new season in place, the Fortnite team seemed to acknowledge the huge impact of its early years. The team decided to bring back the original map along with the favorite classic weapons and items.

Various terrains that were only seen during the first chapter were also brought back to complete the OG experience. Who would not get nostalgic once you play through the Tilted Towers, Paradise Palms, and Salty Springs, right?

According to an unofficial stat website for Fortnite, the game recorded 3.9 million concurrent players within 24 hours of launching Fortnite OG. This is more than the concurrent players that were recorded within September and October with only two million. Last season, the game only peaked at 2.8 million.

Fortnite Pioneers Battle Royale Genre

Fortnite is arguably one of the first games to capture the essence of a battle royale game. It managed to hook millions of gamers around the world and across ages. The 100-player, last-person-standing format gave intense competition between strangers online, making it exciting gameplay that most of the players appreciated.

Whether you are a seasoned player or just trying some games back in 2018, there is no doubt that you have come across Fortnite. The game is rated T due to the violence but the report showed that 61 percent of teens have played the game. Meanwhile, 41 percent of parents of Fortnite gamers reported that it can get difficult to dissuade teens to not play the game and do something else.

Fortnite's Love for Collaboration

The game is famous for its various collaborations spanning from various franchises, brands, and artists. These collaborations make the game more exciting and fresh as players can explore in-game events and try limited-time game modes. In addition, players can also purchase rare character skins, cosmetics, and weapons.

Some of the notable collaborations throughout the years is the Marvel Cinematic Universe which featured The Avengers and even Wolverine from X-Men. A Star Wars event was also held which gave players an in-game screening of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker clip. Artists like Travis Scott, Marshmello, and even Ariana Grande were also featured in the game.

Competitive Esports Scene of Fortnite

Like other competitive video games, Fortnite also invests in hosting championship events for the game. For instance, the Fortnite World Cup in 2019 had a prize pool of $30 million, making it the largest esports prize at the time. There is also the Fornite Championship Series where players compete regularly across multiple seasons.

Meanwhile, there are also third-party tournaments that can be enjoyed. As well as cash cups which are the in-game tournaments that offer cash prizes to top performers. Overall, this makes the game enticing, especially for competitive gamers.