Since its release in 2017, Fortnite has been one of the most popular video games across the globe. With its free-to-play model, and cross-platform accessibility, there are many redeemable qualities which have helped the game maintain its popularity for all these years. However, after several years and trend cycles, how has Fortnite managed to stay relevant?

1. Constant Evolution

Fortnite is known for its frequent and consistent updates, which play a significant role in keeping the game fresh for players. There are usually weekly updates, releasing minor changes and hotfixes, also known as ‘content updates’, as well as seasonal updates, which occur every 10-12 weeks. These typically introduce significant changes into the game, such as a new Battle Pass, exclusive skins, and collaborations.

On top of seasonal updates there are also mid-season updates. These updates include further quests and tasks for high-level players to keep them interested and engaged with the game, and new collaborations like the Avatar collaboration in April-May 2024, which introduced new quests, skins, and weapons. If you completed all the appropriate tasks during the set time period, you received an exclusive Korra skin, with multiple variations the further into the quests you got.

2. Cross-Platform Accessibility

Epic Games prioritises accessibility to reach their games across multiple different devices and platforms. You can play Fortnite on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile. This allows a larger player base to get involved, meaning higher engagement and turnout. People can play together regardless of the different consoles they use.

3. Community Engagement

The game offers a variety of player modes, even within its classic ‘Battle Royale.’ These modes include solo, duo, and squads. This means that friends in squads can play together and engage in conversation over a party chat. You can play squads with your friends or with random players, giving you an opportunity to meet new people!

4. Variety of Game Modes

Over the years, Fortnite has introduced many new game modes, one of the most popular being ‘Zero Build Battle Royale’ for people who can’t build or simply don’t want to use the build feature in their games. Another game mode newly introduced is ‘Reload’, a mode in duos or squads where you can automatically reboot if you die, making a different, fast-paced game out of a classic ‘Battle Royale’ structure. There have been some other interesting game mode collaborations such as Lego Fortnite, and Fall Guys parkour lobbies. Fortnite also offers a creative mode, and the opportunity for anybody to develop a game if they wish. Some popular user created games are box PvP rounds, which test players building abilities under pressure, and parkour lobbies, to test players agility and reaction time.

5. Item Shop & Battle Passes

Although Fortnite is a free-to-play game, there are many in-game purchases that can enhance your experience as a player. You can buy new skins, emotes, vehicles, festival instruments and jam tracks in the item shop. These items are bought with ‘V-bucks’ which can be purchased in-game (1000 V-bucks cost roughly £6.99). The item shop refreshes every day at midnight, meaning players have a regular rotation of options, keeping their experience interesting. There is also a ‘Battle Pass’ option each season, which costs players 950 V-bucks, and gives them access to exclusive seasonal skins, emotes, and other rewards including free V-bucks.

If you are a regular player of Fortnite, there is also a subscription-based service called Fortnite Crew, which is a rolling monthly payment of £9.99 and gives players free access to the Battle Pass, a new exclusive skin and 1000 V-bucks free each month. These in-game purchases help keep players interested in the game and allow Epic Games to fund their game developments and continue to release fun updates.

6. Collaborations

What would make your gaming experience better? Could it be including your favourite movie franchise Marvel? Or perhaps your favourite musical artist Metallica, or Billie Eilish? Well, this is exactly what Fortnitehas done for their players. Regular collaborations with popular brands, franchises and artists mean you can purchase skins, emotes, jam tracks, and other in-game elements related to these topics. My favourite so far has been The Weeknd collaboration. From December 2023, Fortnite players and fans of The Weeknd could buy a skin of his, as well as an emote to his song ‘Popular’ to use and show off in-game.

7. Nostalgia

Finally, Fortnite has largely managed to stay so relevant for several years because of nostalgia. Fortnitefollows a predictable in-game structure which can be comforting for some players, meaning it is easy and enjoyable to come back to and revisit. People may take breaks from playing Fortnite and come back when there is an interesting promotion, or they feel like they want some nostalgia back in their lives. In late 2023, Fortnite introduced an update called OG Fortnite, bringing back old locations and weapons which were popular in the early days of the game’s evolution. This promotion brought back millions of players wanting a nostalgic experience and reminded many why Fortnite is still a relevant and enjoyable game to play.

Overall, Fortnite goes down in history as one of the hottest and most successful online games of our generation. They achieve this through regular updates and frequent new game modes, optimising in game purchases (including popular franchises and musical artists), and creating a sense of community for players. If Epic Games keep this up, Fortnite could continue to be one of the most popular games for decades to come.

Credit: Wikimedia Commons