Few video game titles have imprinted themselves into the global zeitgeist as much as Fortnite.
Since Tencent-backed Epic Games released the battle royale shooter in 2017, Fortnite has been ported to almost every gaming console imaginable, has won dozens of awards and generated more than US$26 billion in revenues.
It had some half a billion registered users as of September 2023, 90% of which were male and 63% aged between 18 and 24.
Much of its success comes down to ease of use, lower hardware requirements and a massive network of players to compete against 24/7.
Six years on, and Fortnite’s magic appears as strong as ever, in part due to the constantly updated gameplay mechanics, high degree of customisability and intensely loyal fanbase.
But there is one other key to Fortnite’s incredible popularity - it’s just as fun to watch as it is to play.
Watching players get airdropped into a battlefield for high-octane ranged combat while building and protecting their bases against aggressors while avoiding the storm is spectator gold.
Hence Fortnite has emerged as one of the most popular competitive video games of all time.
In 2018, a year after its debut, Fortnite was the second-most popular esports game by viewership, per Esports Charts figures, behind League of Legends and in front of Counter-Strike.
Its popularity has since slipped to 15th place, but Fortnite still commands a respectable audience, peaking at more than 327,000 online viewers in March of this year.
The Fortnite Champion Series (FNCS) is the game’s Premier League, where players battle it out for a $10 million total prize pool.
Britain’s own Guild Esports PLC (LSE:GILD, OTCQB:GULDF) has emerged as a strong contender after scouting a number of stand-out players, including ‘Blacha’ from Poland, ‘Chico’ from Bosnia and Herzegovina and PabloWingu from Denmark, where the FNCS is being hosted this year.
Guild’s team currently ranks 12th on the global Fortnite leaderboard, with its revamped team hoping to climb the ranks in upcoming competitions.
The 2023 FNCS Global Championship will be held between 13 and 15 October in Copenhagen, where players will compete for the $1 million top prize.
What are some other popular Esports titles?
According to Esports Charts, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is currently the most popular esports title, with a large viewership across Asia.
League of Legends comes in second followed by Counter-Strike, Valorant, Arena of Valour, PUBG: Battlegrounds and Apex Legends.