How Fortnite ‘Solved’ E-Sport Gaming

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Gaming is Still Young

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I wrote extensively last week about how video games are beginning to really scale their impact on popular and daily culture in the last several years. More people are gaming, more people have access to games, and the industry is growing at a rapid pace. E-gaming is almost synonymous with competitive sports at this point and I believe that we’re only entering the golden era of gaming with powerful allies like twitch.tv. As an avid gamer myself, this is all exciting stuff.

And the obvious champion of this growth today is undoubtedly Fortnite. It’s a game that has magically been able to combine the best elements of the gaming industry into a seamless product and what is now the most-played title in history. This mass appeal, which has brought in even millions of people who have never gamed in their lives, is due to a few key factors that are important to note as we move further into this next generation of gaming development.

Let’s jump right into the juice.

Universal

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Every. Damn. Device. PS4, XBox, Switch, PC, even mobile. This is almost unheard of, with game producers usually producing exclusive deals with either Sony or Microsoft and Nintendo often out of the conversation altogether. Companies don’t even go near iOS or Android for that matter.

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This is truly the top milestone for what EPIC Games has done with this title. Almost anyone, anywhere has access to some form of the game. This creates the greatest network effect possible, a common thing that anyone with a bit of boredom can share in. Seriously, this is like every economic demographic getting access to a Ferrari chassis at various price points. This is not to be understated.

Actually “Free-to-Play”

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No, not the monetized BS that comes with so many triple-A titles where you can technically play for free, but you’re pressured constantly to buy shortcuts and bonuses. There is nothing in Fortnite that you can purchase that creates any more of a competitive advantage. Everything purchasable is completely cosmetic, which does indeed create an enormously profitable business model for EPIC as everyone wants to latest skins and gear. But as a conscious consumer, there’s is absolutely no need to whip out your credit card for anything. Hell, even the game is free. You’re literally a download away from training for your Victory Royales from day 1. This adds on hugely to the universal aspect.

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Shortform Gaming

This is the same reason Candy Crush is so wildly popular, just in a much more evolved and competitive form. Every game of Fortnite lasts 15-20 minutes max, with most people ‘dying’ much sooner and immediately hopping into another game. This lowers the entry barrier for concentration and commitment, allowing you to enjoy the game at your own pace and level of focus. You could play Fortnite for 15 minutes, you could play it for several hours. The speed and impromptu-quality of the format makes it enjoyable for either side of the spectrum.

The Sum of All Parts

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The last thing, and is supported by the aforementioned reasons, is that Fortnite is the perfect embodiment of a modern E-Sport. It’s competitive, wildly accessible, fast-paced, and most importantly, uses simple base mechanics that can be learned immediately. This sets it far apart from League of Legends, Starcraft, and even PUBG. I could sit my mother down and teach her the game with one viewing. Fornite gives me the most hope that E-sports will even overcome physical sports at one point due to it’s multi-dimensional enjoyability.

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So what do you think? Is my analysis overblown? Is Fortnite just a temp fad? Let me know your thoughts below!