Fortnite Battle Royale
A battle royale game with building mechanics and live narrative.
Fortnite Battle Royale is a 2017 battle royale game developed by Epic Games, part of the larger Fortnite platform. Up to 100 players compete to be the last survivor on a shrinking island, gathering weapons and resources while using a building system to construct temporary structures. The game has achieved widespread commercial success and cultural impact, with hundreds of millions of registered players and frequent content updates tied to a live narrative.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Epic Games
- Director
- Tofu Chris; Ted Timmins
- Composer
- Rom Di Prisco
- Pinar Toprak
- Phill Boucher
- Series
- Fortnite
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Genre
- Third-person shooter, battle royale
- Modes
- Multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Matches in Fortnite Battle Royale begin with up to 100 players skydiving from a flying Battle Bus onto an island with fixed named landmarks. Players collect weapons, shields, and other resources from randomly scattered chests, storing up to five items in their inventory. Weapons are divided into five rarities—Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, and Legendary—that determine damage output. The goal is to be the last player or team remaining, achieved by eliminating opponents or avoiding them. In solo play, elimination is permanent once health is depleted; in squad modes, players become incapacitated and can be revived by teammates. Reboot Vans, added in April 2019, allow teammates to revive fallen players, though these vans are scarce and placed in exposed locations. The playable area shrinks over time, represented by a storm, and players outside it take increasing damage. Hostile NPCs, introduced in February 2020, can be defeated for better loot, while friendly NPCs, added in December 2020, offer services such as selling items or joining as AI allies. The building system is the game's main distinction: using a pickaxe, players harvest wood, stone, and metal from the environment to construct walls, ramps, floors, and roofs. Lighter materials build quickly but are fragile; stronger materials are more durable but slower to place.
Development
Fortnite was first announced by Epic Games in 2011 as a combination of Minecraft and Left 4 Dead, with four players cooperating to survive monster attacks. Development was prolonged due to industry shifts toward games-as-a-service and internal changes, including a focus on the free-to-play title Paragon. Epic reached an agreement with Tencent, granting the company about 40% ownership in exchange for support in transitioning to a games-as-a-service model and access to the Chinese market. In June 2017, Epic confirmed a 2018 release for Fortnite, with a paid early access period starting one month later; the game was intended to be free-to-play with microtransactions. The early access version featured the Save the World mode, where teams of four cooperatively completed objectives on procedurally generated maps. After PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds became popular in March 2017, Epic's CCO Donald Mustard, CEO Tim Sweeney, and two other executives decided during a car ride to create a battle royale mode. Mustard wrote a one-page design document during the three-hour trip; the Battle Bus idea came from seeing a school bus. Development was kept separate from the main player-versus-environment content to avoid affecting game balance.
Promotion and cross-media expansion
In May 2018, Epic partnered with IMG to produce official Fortnite-themed clothing. Hasbro released a Fortnite Battle Royale-themed Monopoly game in late 2018, replacing money with players' lives and allowing properties to be protected with walls. Hasbro also produced Fortnite-based Nerf blasters, which became available in retail stores in 2019. Funko released a series of Fortnite Battle Royale-themed Pop! figurines in late 2018. The game was included in special bundles for Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, each offering redeemable codes for V-Bucks and platform-exclusive customization options. A retail release called Fortnite: Deep Freeze Bundle, distributed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch in late 2018, included a code for V-Bucks and unique cosmetics. In October 2018, Epic introduced the Support a Creator program, allowing players to support selected livestreamers; creators earned US$5 for every 10,000 V-Bucks spent by their supporters. The program became permanent after millions of players used it to support over 10,000 creators. In November 2018, Epic partnered with the NFL to release character outfits for all 32 teams, along with original Fortnite Team outfits, available for a limited time. This collaboration was influenced by the popularity of Fortnite among NFL players, many of whom performed Fortnite dance emotes as touchdown celebrations.
Reception and legacy
Fortnite Battle Royale received generally positive reviews. Daniel Tack of Game Informer called it immediately understandable and praised its replayability. Michael Higham of GameSpot noted its lighthearted presentation and building tools created a uniquely chaotic experience, though gameplay relied more on improvisation than precision. Austen Goslin of IGN described it as a chaotic and fun system, with speed and simplicity distinguishing it from other battle royale games. The building system drew both praise and criticism: Higham argued it always gave players the opportunity to improvise, while Goslin wrote that Fortnite is more about building than shooting. Dave Aubrey of Pocket Gamer noted that the shrinking play area made permanent structures impractical. Gavin Lane of Nintendo Life admired the flexibility of construction but argued the interface was difficult for new players and the lack of tutorials could make early matches confusing. Critics had differing views on map design: Higham described the island as lacking sophistication in physical layouts, while Goslin appreciated the distinct visual identity of named locations. Ford James of GamesRadar+ emphasized how often the game's structure and meta changed. Opinions were mixed on the free-to-play model: Goslin called the Battle Pass a neat structure, while James expressed concern about social pressure on younger players. daFrans of Jeuxvideo.com criticized the price of premium skins, noting that the most expensive outfits exceeded €20.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed Fortnite Battle Royale?
Fortnite Battle Royale was directed by Tofu Chris and Ted Timmins.
Who composed the music for Fortnite Battle Royale?
The music for Fortnite Battle Royale was composed by Rom Di Prisco, Pinar Toprak and Phill Boucher.
What engine does Fortnite Battle Royale use?
Fortnite Battle Royale runs on Unreal Engine 5.
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