In a remarkable turn of events, data from Ampere Analysis reveals that Fortnite, a game that has been around since 2017, outpaced contemporary heavyweights like GTA, Call of Duty, and Roblox in popularity in the second half of 2023.
Local Rivalries Fuel the US Market
The USA continues to assert its status as a powerhouse in the gaming industry. Interestingly, it’s not international competitors challenging the US market, but local rivalries shaping the landscape.
Epic Games, known for Fortnite and Alan Wake, finds itself in direct competition with other American giants like Electronic Arts (EA). Only China’s Tencent Games, with titles like Honor of Kings and Call of Duty, shows comparable strength.
Fortnite Leads Epic Games to Triumph
Fortnite has captured the hearts of the younger crowd, with a whopping 60% of its players falling into the 18-24 age bracket. The game isn’t just a hit in terms of popularity; it’s also a financial powerhouse.
In 2022, Fortnite raked in an impressive $4.4 billion, not far behind its peak revenue of $5.4 billion back in 2018. Epic Games, the mastermind behind Fortnite, has smartly diversified its income, striking gold particularly with the sales of downloadable content (DLC).
Fortnite Soars Up in Sky
The battle royal game experienced a breathtaking increase in user numbers in 2023. According to Ampere Analysis, the hours spent playing the game from October to November surged by 146%.
A key factor in this rise was the OG Update, which recorded the highest number of concurrent players since the game’s launch in 2017.
Additionally, updates like Lego Fortnite, Fortnite Rocket Racing, and Fortnite Festival significantly contributed to this surge. In total, players spent over 1.6 billion hours in this Battle Royale shooter.
Community Anticipates Rapid New Developments
This triumphant phase could be the catalyst for Epic Games to speed up the development and publishment of new games and release updates more quickly. This is exciting news for the millions of Fortnite players eagerly awaiting a similar gaming experience.
Epic Games might already be working on a new game capturing the essence of game, or planning another major update as a thank you to the loyal player community.
The longevity and continued success of Fortnite are not only a testament to the game’s quality but also to Epic Games’ dynamic and adaptable strategy. This development highlights the importance of player engagement and innovation in the fast-paced world of video games.
With such community backing and a wellspring of creativity, Epic Games seems poised to continue setting standards in the gaming industry.