Fortnite has taken the world by storm since its creation in 2017. With this intense rise in popularity, a massive fandom has formed surrounding the Battle Royale game that sees players fighting it out until only one is left standing.
With the huge variety of different player outfits and dedicated Fortnite dances, the game has very much left the virtual world and entered the real world. It’s everywhere you look!
Why is Fortnite so popular?
Fortnite is somewhat of a cultural phenomenon, no longer only a video game. From high school playgrounds to house parties to live streams with millions of views, the Fortnite fandom is relentlessly huge.
So, what made Fortnite so popular in the fandom community? Perhaps, it was the shareable moments that began its rise to fame. As soon as the game starts up, every player’s story is different. When a player wins, they recount the moment to all of their friends, creating a group that talks about the game daily.
Fortnite is also easy to visually share, too. Fortnite has blessed many Twitch streamers with an entire career, making them millions. Tyler “Ninja” Blevins is the No. 1 Fortnite player on the planet, and his strategies compare to that of real-life card games where the money is at stake, making the game relatable to even non-gamers.
The social aspect of Fortnite is what has skyrocketed the game into the fandom community. From specific in-game events to the endless internet memes and even the multicolored llamas, there is something for everyone, and the fandom loves it.
The Fandom Continues to Grow
Fortnite was massive in 2017, so why in 2019 does the fandom continue to grow even bigger? There are now over 250 million gamers enjoying Fortnite, a baffling number that is quite hard to comprehend. To put this into context: If Fortnite were a country, it would be the fifth largest in the world! Yeah, it’s popular.
Fortnite is constantly innovating and adding new skins, dances, and personalizations that encourage people to take the game into the real world. The fandom is so large now that a Fortnite live festival was even arranged in the U.K. Sadly, the event was an absolute disaster, but it does show how the fandom is still active enough for such a large-scale event to take place two years after the game’s release.
It has even been suggested that Fortnite’s peak is still yet to come, which is quite hard to imagine given the massive following the game already has. Considering Fortnite is free to play, it is quite easy to see how it will likely remain popular for many years to come.
Dedicated fans have still managed to spend a total of $1.2 billion as of June 2018. The new skins and special features have hooked fans in and have got them spending their cash like nobody’s business, much to the horror of their parents. I think it’s safe to say that Fortnite has been a massive success.
What does the future hold for Fortnite?
It’s always hard to predict what the future may hold for a video game, as the market constantly changes. However, the fandom community behind Fortnite is a massive one of all ages that is sure to stick around long after the general popularity for the game falls away.
We will also be sure to see many more Fortnite conventions and live events in the future that fulfill the desires of the fandom. Plus, it’s great to see people dressing up as their favorite Fortnite characters and meeting the people with whom they have racked up many hours playing the game online together.
All in all, Fortnite has created a brilliant fandom community that will love and play the game for many years to come. As for its popularity, it seems that the fandom has yet to reach its peak.
