Interested in local Fortnite events in Las Vegas? More info at the bottom of the article.
As gamers, we are reminded again of the excitingly new and emerging state of esports in the wake of the 10 million gamers who played Fortnite Battle Royale only two weeks after release. Fortnite Battle Royale is now consistently among the top three most watched games on Twitch.tv and often the most watched game on Twitch by a large margin. Figures like these might not be jaw dropping for many jaded younger gamers who are used to their entertainment landscape changing drastically, but this is akin to a newly invented sport becoming more popular than football overnight.
Wikipedia explains the Fortnite basics for us :
Fortniteis a co-op sandboxsurvival gamedeveloped byEpic GamesandPeople Can Fly, with Epic Games also publishing the game. The game was released as a paid early access title forMicrosoft Windows,macOS,PlayStation 4andXbox Oneon July 25, 2017, with a fullfree-to-playrelease expected in 2018.
Fortniteis set in contemporary Earth, where the sudden appearance of a worldwide storm causes 98% of the world’s population to disappear, and zombie-like creatures rise to attack the remainder. Considered by Epic as a cross betweenMinecraftandLeft 4 Dead.
How Did Fortnite Become So Popular?
Despite Fortnite’s successful launch it wasn’t until their release of the free-to-play 100 person free-for-all mode in September that the game became the king of the hill on Twitch. Estimates have the player base growing by up to 20 fold because of the release of this new Battle Royale mode.
Although Battle Royale was new to Fortnite, the genre had recently been popularized by the previously most popular Twitch game; PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, also known as PUBG. As you might imagine, there is some contentious debate, as some players see Battle Royale as a unique game in a new genre while others see Battle Royale as just an imitator of PUBG. According to engadget.com there could be more than just friction and drama here:
The new kid on the nascent ‘battle royale genre’ block is seriously challenging the reigning champ — butPUBGmight not take the usurpation lying down. Its studio Bluehole loudlycomplainedabout the overt similarities between its game (released last March) and Epic’s new spin-off, and even vaguely threatened the latter in a statement when it said the company would “contemplate further action.”
Is Fortnite the First Game to Dominate an Upcoming Genre?
History seems to repeat itself, even in the short history of esports. The old school gamers will recognize the similarities between this scenario and the rise of both DOTA and League of Legends. DOTA began as just an offshoot mini-game which evolved into one of the most played and most watched games in the world. DOTA is also credited for popularizing an entirely new genre of game. League of Legends was released years later and became the second well known game in the genre and was also massively successful as a game and a spectator esport. League of Legends received a lot of criticism early on as being a rip-off of DOTA, but when a new genre of game is created, there is always room to debate which aspect of a game should remain unique to that game, and which elements are just inherent to the genre that game popularized.
The Future of Fortnite in Las Vegas
Of Course Fortnite is still very new and we have yet to see how the new game and the new genre will shape the gaming and viewing landscape for esports. Despite the massive popularity of PUBG and Battle Royale, tournament organizers struggle to support a 100 person free for all game that lacks a defined pro scene.
One of the first venues looking to support the game is the Esports Arena at the Luxor in Las Vegas which opens March 22, 2018 and is working with the local gaming communities to pioneer this evolving genre. Only time will tell if this genre is meant to stay at the top of the world of gaming and esports viewing.
Interested in local Fortnite events here in Vegas?
Check out Gamework’s upcoming Friday Fortnite Community Night on March 23rd.
Press Start Gaming, PVP Zone, and Wolf and Lamb have also hosted Fortnite events recently. Keep an eye out on our esports event calendar for future Fortnite events. Use the sorting filter to see events for your favorite games, genres, or venues!
FAQs
Fortnite has become a leader in the gaming industry by consistently adapting to the needs of its players. The game's weekly updates, free-to-play model, and various gameplay modes have created a unique and exciting experience that has captured the attention of millions of players worldwide.
Where can I watch esports in Vegas? ›
HyperX Arena Las Vegas at the Luxor.
Is Fortnite the most popular? ›
Fortnite was ranked the most-played games on all platforms, while the likes of GTA V, Counter-Strike 2, Roblox, Minecraft, Rocket League, Apex Legends, Fall Guys, Valorant and Call of Duty followed. On Xbox and Playstation consoles, Starfield was the only single-player game in the top 10.
Why is Fortnite the best game of all time? ›
At its heart, Fortnite offers an exhilarating mix of survival, strategy, and combat, wrapped up in a vibrant, ever-evolving world. Whether you're battling solo, with friends, or in large groups, the game's dynamic environments and creative modes keep every match fresh and exciting.
Why is Fortnite so addictive? ›
In a study, a neuroscientist found that Fortnite images triggered the dopamine area of the brain at a much greater intensity in a boy who played Fortnite than in another boy who did not play the game. If you think your children may be presenting symptoms of Internet Gaming Disorder or gaming addiction, we want to help.
Why is Fortnite good for your brain? ›
This game requires quick thinking, sharp reflexes, and strategic planning. All of these elements can help train your brain to make faster decisions and improve problem-solving skills. Moreover, Fortnite's social aspect, where you team up with friends or chat with players worldwide, can boost social skills and teamwork.
What esports team is based in Las Vegas? ›
The Vegas Eternal, formerly the Paris Eternal, is an American professional Overwatch esports team based in Las Vegas, Nevada.
What games take place in Nevada? ›
A
- Ace Combat Infinity.
- Actua Pool.
- Alien Hominid.
- Area 51 (1995 video game)
- Area 51 (2005 video game)
- Asphalt 8: Airborne.
- Asphalt Legends Unite.
Two Hours: $25. Four Hours: $40. Eight Hours (Day Pass): $50. Twenty-Four Hours (Weekend Warrior): $125.
Is Fortnite shutting down in 2024? ›
If you ask us, Fortnite simply isn't going away anytime soon. That's all you need to know about whether or not Fortnite is shutting down anytime soon. For more on the game, be sure to check out our Fortnite PC requirements to make sure your setup can run the game.
Looking purely at the number of active players worldwide, PUBG is comfortably at the top of the most popular games pile right now, with over 100 million gamers enjoying this Battle Royale classic.
Is Fortnite good or bad? ›
Common Sense recommends Fortnite for teens 13 and up, primarily because of the action violence. But with the right controls and parental guidance, this can be a preteen-friendly alternative to violent first-person shooters.
Which game beat Fortnite? ›
Apex Legends is the best Fortnite alternative, which has collected all the latest features that this genre has to offer, and the number of players and e-sports tournaments only confirms this.
What age plays Fortnite the most? ›
Around 85% of Fortnite players are aged 18 to 35.
Who is better than Fortnite? ›
Apex Legends has a stronger focus on the actual weapons and for most people, the tight first-person shooter controls greatly outweigh the looser third-person shooting and building of Fortnite. Hard to take someone out if they build a house around themselves in two seconds.
What is 'Fortnite' and why is it so popular?Entertainment.iehttps://entertainment.ie ›
First and foremost, 'Fortnite' is a videogame. First released in 2017 by Epic Games, it's become something of a cultural phenomenon for its bright c...
Create and play with friends for free in Fortnite. Explore games, concerts, live events and more, or be the last player standing in Battle Royale and Zero Build...
In recent years, the gaming industry has seen a significant shift with the rise of battle royale games, and one game that has stood out from the rest is Fortnit...
Fortnite generated $4.4 billion revenue in 2022, it peaked at $5.4 billion in 2018.
Why do people like Fortnite so much? ›
Exciting Mechanics
Unlike some of the most popular games in the same genre, Fortnite allows players to play with different skills, where many are optional. It's also a great stealth game; many players can come out on top without having to fire their weapons once.
What was the point of Fortnite? ›
Explained: What is Fortnite Battle Royale? Fortnite is a survival game where 100 players fight against each other in player versus player combat to be the last one standing. It is a fast-paced, action-packed game, not unlike The Hunger Games, where strategic thinking is a must in order to survive.
When was Fortnite popularized? ›
It may not have been mandatory to spend real world money, but as the game grew more popular back in 2017 and 2018, the game probably made more money off vanity items than they would have done had the game been at a price to players.
