
Despite dividing opinion with just about as much force as marmite, Epic Games' Fortnite has rather literally taken the world by storm. The developer has revealed that 78.3 million people played the game in August, easily becoming the game's "biggest month yet", and there are absolutely no signs of it slowing down.
The information comes from part of a blog post which shares details on the game's upcoming Fall Skirmish event. Epic Games notes how these monstrously high figures - and the server stress caused by such a phenomenon - has helped the studio to make targeted improvements to the game's overall performance.
"Beginning in October, we’re opening up inclusive competition, where everybody can play and compete. To make that possible we’ve had to harden and scale our systems and infrastructure. For example, August was Fortnite’s biggest month yet, with 78.3 million of you showing up to play. This exposed weak points and allowed us to make targeted improvements to critical systems, such as stats and servers. The Summer Skirmish also, as you all probably noticed, highlighted problems with performance and spectating, which we’ve been working on ever since. We’re excited about kicking off the new competition system and we’ll have details dropping in the weeks ahead."
Of course, the game's recent jump to handheld and mobile systems will have given these numbers a rather significant boost, and this looks set to become a large part of its overall appeal. Nintendo recently announced a Fortnite Switch bundle - complete with some free in-game items - becoming one of the very few times the company has shipped a hardware bundle with a third party game on the cover. It's a clear and obvious sign that having the game on your platform gives you a major boost, with Nintendo being keen to advertise that fact to the fullest.
Fortnite's success has caused an incredible surge in Epic Games' value, reportedly now reaching $8 billion, up from $825 million in 2012.
Love it or hate it, Fortnite is one of the most important parts of today's gaming scene. Are you one of those 78.3 million players?
[source epicgames.com, via gamesindustry.biz]
Comments 27
The subheadline suggests it's because of Switch when it's because of the Android version, released in August.
Lovely.
Back to Splatoon 2.
Hey, I'm one of them! I enjoy the game's very casual drop-in/drop-out feel. I'll pull it up every few days and play two or three rounds, then go on about my business doing something else. The daily and weekly challenges are what keep me coming back at least once a week.
Still cannot fathom what people see in the game, but nice for them that it is thriving.
It also felt like you'd have to buy the season pass to even have anything to actually do within the game. Oh well, I'll stick to what I like
I'm a teacher at an elementary school and I'm pretty sure >80% of the children in my class play / played Fortnite. Needless to say 100% have heard of the game. So I guess these numbers make sense? It's crazy hype
78m unique players? Wow.
I just didn't find this fun at all. I can drop into Splatoon and play a bunch of rounds in the time it takes just to collect stuff and get to the action in Fortnite. Fortnite just feels so clunky.
Hmmm i think it is a bit disenginous of you to attribute a “significant” increase of the userbase due to the switch. Its also in mobile, pc and other consoles anyone of which could have made a more “significant” contribution to the user base. Is it possible? Of course, but what is your basis?
I'd like to think that I'm one of the best 78.3m Fortnite players in the world!
(..probably not though, considering how long it's been since I last won a BR in the game! )
It's bizarre to see Epic Games dominating the world some 28 or so years since their inception.
I grew up playing the likes of ZZT, Jill of the Jungle, and Jazz Jackrabbit. I miss those days. I would love a Jill reboot. I remember Jazz 2 being particularly great as well (its multiplayer modes were awesome).
Nearly everyone on my friends list is always playing this and I really can't understand why.I played it a few times but it's not really for me.Besides,there are just too many great games to play now and with how little time in a day I have to play i just don't want to waste it playing something I don't get any fun out of.
It’s a game where you can basically just hide until there are 2 people left and then get 1 kill and win. I got so bored after a month and when paladins released, I stopped and haven’t touched fortnite since. Just like cod craze last gen, I just don’t understand the lasting appeal.
Slightly off topic. Wonder if Splatoon would make more money as a free-to-play cross Platform battle Royale game than as a paid Nintendo Switch exclusive...
Surely Fortnite money making machine would give the bean counters at Nintendo some food for thought about Splatoon...
I got hooked on Fortnite for most of Season 5 after buying a battle pass. It's all about those "carrots" they dangle in front of you, pushing you to play more in order to receive items. That's what hooks people in. That being said, I'd rather play a Battle Royale game that has no fort building and a 1st person mode, so COD Black Ops Battle Royale might be my next addiction.
Never saw the appeal either until I jumped on with two friends to play together with. Then it got super fun.
I’ve tried to like it. But damn, that is one boring game. Even the menu music makes me regret starting it up and sends me to sleep.
@BlueOcean
The android version is only limited to a couple of Samsung devices. They made a limited deal to advertise the Note 9.
@NintendoKnight Wrong, that was just for a couple of days.
There is a VERY under-reported issue with cross-platform play between Xbox One and the Switch that my kids are experiencing.
Basically, if you are a minor, you can forget about cross-play between Switch and Xbox.
From what I gather, because either there EPIC, Microsoft and/or Nintendo accounts reflect they are kids, cross-platform play is no longer available to them. This happened with a recent update and appears to be uncurable (unless you are willing to open a new EPIC account and thereby not have any of the goodies and v-bucks of the existing account). Three hours last night trying to adjust settings on 3 accounts, 2 consoles times 2 kids and nothing worked.
For those familiar: The "Allow Cross-Platform Play" option in the settings is OMITTED from the list of options.
Really stinks to have one kid playing with friends (all of the Xbox) and another having to play with strangers on the Switch due to this situation. Talk about keeping the Switch a second class citizen.
@diwdiws I didn't attribute it to Switch. Here's what I said:
"Of course, the game's recent jump to handheld and mobile systems will have given these numbers a rather significant boost"
The paragraph aims to explain the impact that handheld (Switch) and mobile devices have had in increasing player numbers in recent times - due to their more recent releases in comparison to PC/PS4/Xbox etc. - and how this appears to be a focus thanks to recent marketing efforts and new hardware products. 🙂
For a free game its a money making deal. Buying dance moves and skins adds up fast! Like going to the casino. You have to put on a limit or you get in trouble.
I don’t get it. I don’t. It’s a mediocre, overhyped, repetitive, boring fad. It got old in under an hour.
Part of the blame falls upon the video game media. Stop hyping and sensationalizing this trash for easy headlines.
Splatoon 2 is better. Paladins is better. Hell, Hungry Hungry Hippos is better.
“Love it or hate it, Fortnite is one of the most important parts of today’s gaming scene.”
Dude, shut up. This game is popularized by 5th-graders on smartphones. Fortnite is the fidget spinner of the video game industry.
That's it. I've given up on humanity...
Kidding, ... but seriously...
On a more serious note. That is impressive from an engineering standpoint. They built it to scale.
While this says it "easily became the biggest game of the month" Minecraft recorded > 75 million players as well so Fortnite might have not been the biggest game. Either way that's pretty unknown and Fortnite had a bigger daily playerbase.
Oh wow just last week it was horrible on the Switch and should have never been released. I'd love to see an actual platform by platform breakdown of the numbers for once just to see how many people play where, otherwise feeling the need to say that is just silly.
Also I don't care for this game, but I didn't have any problems with the Switch version when I tried it. I feel like this is another time Multiplats have gotten crappies on by the hardcore Nintendo fans but then they want to turn around and claim a great effect on the numbers the next minute.
@Ryzaerian Sounds like someone needs a hug.
its a decent free to play game with gimmick building feature use for cover, camping or get the drop on others. 3rd person, cartoony graphics with a simple weapon system.
Nothing to write home about.
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