Fortnite was born as a video game, but over time its success and influence has reached unimaginable territories. According to many pundits and industry experts, we can consider Fortnite a social platform, the favorite of Generation Z.
An online universe in short that combines in a unique and innovative way the benefits of gaming, social media and streaming platforms, remaining perpetually active and independent of users. In other words that continues to exist creating a live and real-time experiential dimension. A universe that has effects in both the real and digital worlds; with its economic infrastructure: jobs, stores and of course an independent cultural production.
One of the reasons is Unreal Engine, Epic Games' graphics engine that is bringing its video game expertise to other worlds. With the support of Unreal Engine, for example, the classic "The Lion King" or "The Mandalorian" were filmed; and Unreal Engine is what allowed the visual complexity of Travis Scott's live performance.
The other reason is the economic infrastructure that Fortnite has managed to create. The game can be downloaded for free, but everything that enriches or improves the Fortnite experience - the skins, the missions, the equipment - is paid for. Despite the fact that they are "cosmetic" accessories, which do not help to be more competitive in the game, the turnover is bigger than we can imagine.
In 2018, Fortnite's profits came to 2.4 billion (with a decrease in 2019 but that is not enough to scratch its primacy among video games). It has been calculated that Fortnite grosses, per user, an amount almost 5 times higher than that collected by Facebook. But the concert of Travis Scott of which we have already analyzed the potential in the previous chapter, is an example of the enormous marketing power of Fortnite. A universe that can promote any real-world product, offering in return the loyalty and engagement of its users.
In the week of the concert, not far from the stage, floated Deadpool's yacht. All the Fortnite apparatus of the Marvel character was created and placed in the game to publicize the release of the new film. So, it had been done for Stranger Things or The Mandalorian. If you're wondering what figures we're talking about, creating a skin in the game costs a brand roughly $500,000. The boundary between online and offline universe, in Fortnite, gets thinner every day. Who knows what will be the next shocking surprises.