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10 Ways Fortnite Changed the Gaming World

10 Ways Fortnite Changed the Gaming World

Chances are, you’ve heard of a little game called Fortnite . Yeah okay, that was a corny opener, but all you have to do is say the word, ” Fortnite ,” and I guarantee whoever hears you will react to it instantly. This game is not only one of the biggest phenomenons in entertainment since Pac-Man Fever, but it’s probably a lot bigger than that. Not only has Fortnite changed a lot of “outsider” awareness of video games, but it has also had a major impact within the video games industry as well. So without further typed-out lollygagging, let’s take a look at ten ways Fortnite has had a major impact.

The Battle Pass

The Battle Pass

Fortnite didn’t invent microtransactions, subscriptions, or earning rewards for playing multiplayer matches. But the way Fortnite packaged its Battle Pass structure allowed it to generate revenue without making the anti-microtransaction sects of the gamer collective angry. This allowed Fortnite to thrive and also spilled into other games like Rocket League and PUBG , which struggled to keep making money otherwise without ticking anybody off. We could end up seeing this idea come to plenty of other games as well, as it seems to be hitting that elusive revenue-generating sweet spot.

Epic Games Cancellations

Epic Games Cancellations

It’s pretty obvious Epic Games did not expect Fortnite to take off like it did. With that explosion came growth, and undoubedtly changes to the originally intended scale of the game. Because of that, Epic Games has seemed to struggle to work on its other titles, and multiple games have bitten the dust for various reasons since. Games like Infinity Blade , Unreal Tournament , and Paragon have all either been canceled, delisted, or put on hold in 2018.

Cross-Platform Play

Cross-Platform Play

A huge side effect of Fortnite ‘s success has been the industry’s movement towards cross-platform play. The demand has exploded and because of that, various developers and publishers have lobbied for platform-holders to support it. Even Sony caved recently and the catalyst was, of course, Fortnite . Also due to Fortnite , Epic Games is releasing its cross-platform development tools for free, for any developer that wants to use them in their own games.

Revenue Share/More Money for Devs

Revenue Share/More Money for Devs

Because Fortnite is making money hand over fist, Epic Games has been able to do things that have the potential to cause disruption in the industry that actually makes things better for developers. One example of that is the fact that Epic Games is moving away from the 70/30 revenue split model most content creators face on hosting platforms and marketplaces. This includes the Unreal Engine Store, where small developers who sell assets are now making a lot more money.

Epic Games Store

Epic Games Store

Epic Games recently shocked the world by stepping into the ring with Steam for a bare-knuckle brawl. Launching its own Steam-like digital marketplace, Epic Games has challenged the world with new exclusivity deals, the aforementioned revenue split (also for game devs and publishers), and more incentives that are only possible because of the giant Fortnite money cushion.

Mainstream Penetration

Mainstream Penetration

Fortnite is so ludicrously popular it has organically bled into the mainstream in a way few video games have. People in positions of celebrity, as well as things like movies and TV shows, have injected Fortnite into them without even explicitly pointing out that it’s Fortnite . A huge example is the Floss dance, which has appeared pretty much anywhere you might look today, including the above picture of a goofy WWE bit. Fortnite is everywhere.

It’s a New Space for Kids

It’s a New Space for Kids

Fortnite isn’t just a popular video game. It’s a popular video game that transcends demographics. Everyone plays Fortnite because it’s simple, it’s visually appealing, it’s free, and it runs on pretty much any platform. That means younger players who may or may not have regular access to other video games are really into it. This also makes it a relatively safe space for kids to hang out, as has been observed in various social media and writing. Kids don’t just play Fortnite when they’re playing Fortnite together. They’re chatting with each other about their lives and stuff too, and that’s really fascinating. After all, local co-op scarcity in major games has made hanging out in the basement or whatever to play Halo a bit obsolete.

It May be Hurting Other Games

It May be Hurting Other Games

Not all of Fortnite’s trail of impact is sunshine and roses. The next couple of list items will be a little on the unsavory side. For example, data evaluation from SuperData has suggested Fortnite might be having an overall negative impact on the gaming industry as a whole. This line of thinking is still developing and may not end up being true in the end. But for now, SuperData and other analysis companies are measuting the rise and fall of other game sales compared to Fortnite numbers, and the math isn’t evening out right now.

Schools Are Struggling

Schools Are Struggling

Remember when Pokemon cards were at their most ubiquitous and parents and teachers were having public meltdowns about them? Multiply that several fold and you get what’s happening in schools because of Fortnite . Especially since it went mobile, the impact this game has had on schools has almost been epidemic level. Some schools even had internet infrastructure issues as a result of so many students trying to play Fortnite on school Wi-Fi. This is an ongoing story, and one I’m fascinated to see how it plays out.

Streaming and Esports Are Booming

Streaming and Esports Are Booming

While streaming on platforms like Twitch and esports have been growing huge without Fortnite , this game only made things happen bigger and faster. All the top Twitch streamers play Fortnite , and personalities like Ninja have made their multi-million dollar careers thanks to the game. Esports numbers are also soaring, and now some analytics are predicting the esports world may rival outfits like the NFL within the next few years.

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