In Fortnite, Epic Games has created a monster. The free to play Battle Royale multiplayer shooter has been making serious waves, not only within the gaming scene but by breaking into the larger public consciousness. Everyone from professional sportspeople through to hugely popular musicians such as Drake have been getting in on Fortnite, and its engaging multiplayer gameplay has managed to earn it a load of fans.
Not everyone is happy with Fortnite, of course, as seen by the reaction of the developers of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds to the game and its similar gameplay revolving around a last man standing model. However, regardless of whether Fortnite was the originator of the Battle Royale formula, it nonetheless has left a major impression on the gaming scene, and unsurprisingly this has led to the game making a lot of money.
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Indeed, the game's figures for March make some very positive reading for Epic Games, and for fans of Fortnite in general. According to research firm Superdata, Fortnite made $223 million across all available platforms in March alone, and included in that was the top spot in console revenue and a fifth place in the PC gaming ranks. All in all, that resulted in a 73% jump in revenue in comparison to February.
In general, it was good news for digital spending in general, with 2% rise up to $8.9 billion across the world, but Fortnite is definitely the main winner here. In particular, the game's commercial success makes the popularity of rival PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds look a little less spectacular, with PUBG only landing on the charts as a seventh place spot in PC gaming.
In particular, the success of Fortnite is impressive due to its business model. The game is free to play at entry, with its revenue then made through microtransactions. Clearly, this is working for Epic Games, with the title's player base more than happy to fork out some cash for some extras here and there. To make it even better, the game steers clear of those ever-problematic loot box models that have caused headaches and controversy elsewhere.
It's still up in the air as to whether Fortnite will keep growing, but at least it seems as though Epic Games is willing to offer up sufficient change to keep players engaged. With Season 4 on the way, and a potential comet landing imminent, at the very least there could be a major switch-up on the way for Fortnite users.
More: Can PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds Remain Popular Long-Term Against Fortnite?
Source: Superdata