Fortnite: How Epic's Battle Royale Hit Grew Into a Game Platform
Fortnite's 2017 origins at Epic Games, how its battle royale plays, why it became so popular, the many modes it offers today, and how to start playing.
Fortnite is an online game developed and operated by Epic Games. Many people know it as a battle royale game in which up to 100 players drop onto an island and fight until only one player (or team) remains, but today it's closer to a single game platform that includes a co-op survival mode, a creative mode, a LEGO game, racing, and even a rhythm game.
In this post, we look at what kind of game Fortnite was originally designed to be, how its battle royale mode came about, why it became so wildly popular, and how you can play it today.
At a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Release | July 2017 (Save the World early access), September 26, 2017 (Battle Royale) |
| Developer/Publisher | Epic Games |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, and more |
| Genre | Battle royale, shooter, survival, sandbox |
| Pricing | Free-to-play, with cosmetic items sold for in-game currency (V-Bucks) |
Most modes support cross-play between different devices, and your progress carries over through your Epic Games account.
Origins
Fortnite began around 2011 at an internal Epic Games game jam (a development event for testing ideas over a short period) held after the release of Gears of War 3. The starting point was the idea of combining building games like Minecraft and Terraria with a shooter, and when it was first revealed that same year, it was presented as a co-op game in which four players gather resources together and build forts and traps to fend off hordes of monsters.
Development took a long time. The engine was switched from Unreal Engine 3 to 4, role-playing elements were deepened, and the dark art style was changed to a bright, cartoonish look. As the game pivoted toward a "games as a service" model designed to be run over a long period, China's Tencent acquired about a 40% stake in Epic Games, and in the process some executives, including key developer Cliff Bleszinski, left the company.
The co-op mode refined this way was released as paid early access in July 2017 and was later given the name "Save the World."
How It Plays
How the Battle Royale Mode Came About
Around the same time, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, released in March 2017, sold more than 5 million copies in three months, drawing huge attention to the battle royale genre. Epic Games saw that it could build a battle royale mode using Fortnite's existing assets and finished development in about two months. It was initially planned as part of the paid version, but out of concern that this would hamper growth, Epic made it a separate free game and released it on September 26, 2017, for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
How a Match Plays Out
A battle royale match goes roughly like this.
- Empty-handed players jump out of the flying "Battle Bus" and land on the island.
- They search buildings and chests to gather weapons and items, and harvest materials like wood, stone, and metal.
- As time passes, "the Storm" closes in and the safe zone gradually shrinks. Staying outside it causes damage.
- Players fight the opponents they encounter in the shrinking zone, and the last one standing wins.
Its defining feature is building. Using gathered materials, you can instantly put up walls, floors, stairs, and roofs to block bullets or take the high ground. For players who find building difficult, there's also a "Zero Build" mode without it. You can play solo, in duos, or in small squads, and ranked modes and short limited-time modes are also offered.
Seasons and Cosmetics
The game runs in "Chapters" and "Seasons," with the island, weapons, and story changing every season. The game itself is free, and revenue comes from cosmetic items like character outfits and emotes bought with the in-game currency V-Bucks, as well as from the "Battle Pass." The Battle Pass lets you earn experience by playing throughout the season and unlock rewards tier by tier.
Why It's a Classic
Fortnite Battle Royale drew more than 10 million players within two weeks of launch and surpassed 125 million by June 2018. At the 2019 Game Developers Conference (GDC), Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said the game had 250 million players, 35% of whom were women, the highest known share for a shooter. Fortnite's total revenue exceeded $9 billion by the end of 2019.
Critics praised its building system, accessibility that lets anyone jump in, frequent content updates, and cross-play regardless of device. Its cute cartoon graphics and free price tag drew in even people who didn't normally play shooters.
It also had a big impact on culture beyond the game. In March 2018, a stream by streamer Ninja with rapper Drake and others set a new Twitch viewership record at the time, and it became common to see athletes celebrating with Fortnite dance moves during games. In February 2019, an in-game concert by DJ Marshmello drew more than 10 million players, followed by events such as performances by Travis Scott and Ariana Grande and the premiere of a BTS choreography video. The first Fortnite World Cup, held at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York in July 2019, had a total prize pool of $30 million.
It drew criticism, too. Parents and teachers voiced concern that young students were becoming overly absorbed in the game, and worries about its repeated depictions of gun violence and criticism of its monetization were raised consistently.
The Series and Its Influence
Rather than releasing sequels, Fortnite has kept adding new modes within a single game.
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Battle Royale | The flagship mode in which up to 100 players compete to be the last one standing |
| Save the World | A co-op mode in which up to four players fend off monsters with traps and forts |
| Creative | A creation mode for building your own islands and arenas (released December 6, 2018) |
| LEGO Fortnite | A survival and building game made with LEGO |
| Rocket Racing | A racing game made by Psyonix, developer of Rocket League |
| Fortnite Festival | A rhythm game made by Harmonix, developer of Rock Band |
Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN), which lets players build their own games using Fortnite assets, is also available, making Fortnite both a game and a place where other games are made and distributed.
Its impact on the industry has been significant as well. In August 2020, Epic Games introduced direct payments that bypassed the app stores, and when Apple and Google pulled Fortnite from their stores, Epic sued both companies. In the Apple case, Epic won a ruling that Apple cannot prevent developers from directing users to other payment methods, and it reached a settlement with Google. Fortnite returned to the App Store in the European Union in August 2024 and in the US in May 2025. The dispute greatly broadened the debate over mobile app store fees.
There's a Korea connection, too. Shortly after Fortnite arrived in Korean PC bangs in November 2018, Epic Games announced a then-record 8.3 million concurrent players.
How to Play Today
Most of Fortnite's modes are free to play. On PC, you download it by installing the Epic Games Launcher, and on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, you can get it from each platform's store. On mobile, installation methods vary by region and device, so it's best to check Epic Games' guidance.
If you're new, we recommend the following approach.
- If building feels unfamiliar, start with Zero Build to get comfortable with the weapons and map first.
- If you're playing with friends, jump into duos or squads and try splitting up roles.
- If combat feels like too much, explore LEGO Fortnite, Festival, or Creative islands made by other players.
Cosmetic items don't affect gameplay, so you can enjoy all of the core experience without spending any money.