Is Fortnite Esports?

I get this question a lot. Is Fortnite Esports? The answer is yes and no. Here’s a breakdown of what Fortnite is and what it means for the future of Esports.

Introduction

Fortnite is a massively successful, free-to-play battle royale game developed by Epic Games. With over 250 million players worldwide, it’s no surprise that the game has caught the attention of the esports community. While Fortnite is not currently an official esport, there are a number of competitive tournaments that have been held for the game with prize pools in the tens of thousands of dollars. It’s only a matter of time before Fortnite becomes an official esport.

What is Fortnite?

Fortnite is a co-op sandbox survival game developed by Epic Games and People Can Fly, with the former publishing it. The game was released as a paid-for early access title for Microsoft Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on July 25, 2017, with a full free-to-play release expected in 2018. Fortnite is 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. The player takes on the role of one of four soldiers who are tasked with guarding an abandoned research facility during the storm.

Fortnite and Esports

With the recent rise in popularity of the battle royale genre, many games have been introduced and played by a large number of people. Games such as PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, H1Z1 and now Fortnite Battle Royale have captured the attention of a lot of people. With the release of Fortnite Battle Royale, many people are wondering whether or not the game is an esport.

At its core, esports is defined as a form of sport competition using video games. Esports often takes the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players. The most common video game genres associated with esports are real-time strategy, fighting, first-person shooter and multiplayer online battle arena.

So what about Fortnite Battle Royale? Well, the game does meet some basic criteria for being an esport. For starters, it is a multiplayer game that can be played by professional gamers. In addition, there are already a number of tournaments being organized for the game with prize pools totaling over $1 million.

However, there are also some key characteristics that Fortnite Battle Royale does not currently possess which would make it more suitable for esports competition. First and foremost, not all professional gamers are able to play the game at a high level due to its cartoonish graphics and building mechanic which can be difficult to master. In addition, the game lacks a spectator mode which makes it difficult for fans to watch matches being played.

Fortunately, Epic Games has already announced plans to add a spectator mode in the near future which would go a long way towards making Fortnite Battle Royale more viable as an esport. In addition, with its large player base and growing popularity, there is potential for the game to become an esport in the future if Epic Games continues to support it with updates and features that appeal to both professional gamers and spectators alike.

The Future of Fortnite

Fortnite has taken the world by storm, with its unique blend of PvE and PvP gameplay, and its flexible format that allows for a variety of game modes and play styles. But is Fortnite esports? Could it be the next big thing in competitive gaming?

The answer is a resounding yes! Fortnite has already seen some success in the esports world, with a number of high-profile tournaments being held in 2018. And with the game’s immense popularity showing no signs of waning, it’s only going to continue to grow in the esports scene.

So what does the future hold for Fortnite esports? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: it’s going to be big.