The Future Of Fortnite
When talking about the biggest fish in the ever-growing gaming market, you’d be remiss not to mention Fortnite. The popular battle royale that has become a household name at this point boasted over 78.3 million concurrent players back in August 2018 with little signs of slowing down.
Today, it’s more than just a game; it’s a platform where young gamers can not only engage in fast-paced combat but also hang out and enjoy each other’s company.
So, where does a phenomenon of such epic proportions go from here? Let’s theorise a bit about the future of Fortnite.
Bigger than The International?
It’s no secret that eSports right now are bigger than they’ve ever been, garnering the respect of even the most reluctant of sports network television channels. Tournaments like DOTA’s The International, League of Legends LCS, and the EVO fighting game championship are attracting viewers as well as big-name sponsors in droves.
The Fortnite World Cup, which ran on July 26-28 2019, proved to be no slouch as a spectator sport, attracting more than 2.3 million viewers on both Twitch and YouTube - that’s minus the Chinese viewers! It’s a safe bet, therefore, that Epic Games will want to double down on the event’s massive success during 2020 and beyond.
Minecraft should guard its lunch.
Just as with Minecraft, Fortnite’s Creative Mode has proven that players won’t hesitate in the slightest when it comes to demonstrating their creativity. From the moment it was released, Fortnite Creative has laid host to a smorgasbord of creations, ranging from new maps to recreations of other games. The mode’s potential is immense.
Creative Mode gives Fortnite the ability to tap into a completely different market by appealing to those who aren’t as competitively inclined, who prefer to take a wide canvas and go ham. Just as with other games like Minecraft, Fortnite could also become a solid educational platform.
Going full Blizzard
Blizzard is the kind of developer who enjoys a diverse portfolio for its franchises. Riot, having announced a slew of games based on the League of Legends brand, is following in those same big footsteps. It makes sense when you’ve got in your possession one of the most recognisable logos under your belt.
There’s very little doubt, therefore, that Epic will want to diversify the Fortnite brand into a franchise by making games in other genres. The card game rage doesn’t seem to be slowing down much so, Fortnitestone anyone?
What are your thoughts on the future of Fortnite? Let me know in the comments below.