Fortnite Developer Allegedly Made $3 Billion in 2018

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Citing an anonymous source, TechCrunch claims that Epic Games, the developers behind the free-to-play game Fortnite, made $3 billion dollars in profit this year. The company is also reportedly worth about $15 Billion, which puts them in the same league as the largest publicly trading gaming companies, like Activision-Blizzard, Ubisoft, EA, and Take-Two. This is great news for Epic's shareholders, like Tencent and Disney, and that upward momentum may continue into 2019. TechCrunch notes that the figure smashed analyst's predictions of about $2 billion in profit in spite of unforeseen trouble in the Chinese gaming market, and that Fortnite Season 7, which is potentially one of the company's biggest money-makers to date, may not even be included in that figure.

However, the investment cards haven't always been stacked in Epic's favor... China's Tencent, the maker of blockbuster chat app WeChat and a prolific games firm in its own right, became the first outside investor in Epic's business back in 2012 when it injected $330 million in exchange for a 40 percent stake in the business....Why would a proven company give up such a huge slice of its business? Executives believed that Epic, as it was, was living on borrowed time. They sensed a change in the way games were headed based on diminishing returns and growing budgets for console games, the increase of "live" games like League of Legends and the emerging role of smartphones.
 
This is what’s wrong with gaming ... a stupid terrible game made 3 billion so every other developer follows its lead, like lemmings going over a cliff.

Except it is not a "stupid terrible game". It is the best battle royal game that you can completely play for free. If battle royal ain't your thing then fine but Fortnite is pure genius and they deserve every penny.
 
Well, I guess PC gaming "Master race" is not all that master at all, except being parted with their money. :D
 
Disney has stock in it and Epic isn't making their games?

Suddenly wondering what a Starwars Battle Royale game would be like.
 
Never played fortnite but the vids of it just leave me baffled, people bouncing around firing guns while simultaneously building shit around themselves. :cautious: Don't see the appeal really.
 
This is what’s wrong with gaming ... a stupid terrible game made 3 billion so every other developer follows its lead, like lemmings going over a cliff.

I picked up a new hobby....shooting.
Don't have to deal with broken, watered down games and overpriced GPUs to play them.
 
I always felt like people say "This game sucks" in threads like this is a form of mental masturbation for them to look better then the "mainstream". I don't care for the game either. Wouldn't call it shit...cause how the hell do you make $3billion with shit? Yeah it might not be the best game of all time, but hell man...if I made $1billion with a game that would be incredible...but $3bilion? That's like freaking 3 times more incredible :)
 
I always felt like people say "This game sucks" in threads like this is a form of mental masturbation for them to look better then the "mainstream". I don't care for the game either. Wouldn't call it shit...cause how the hell do you make $3billion with shit? Yeah it might not be the best game of all time, but hell man...if I made $1billion with a game that would be incredible...but $3bilion? That's like freaking 3 times more incredible :)

There's nothing wrong with the game at all. It appeals to people because it's FUN. Unfortunately the old people here often forget that not every game needs to stress your 2080ti, or look as realistic as possible.. gameplay is a huge factor in fortnite.

I don't play but my son does and I love watching him. He has a blast. The game is arcadey and cartoony looking. I love it.
 
Also keep in mind the game plays pretty well on consoles, PCs, and cell phones. While the shooting mechanics aren't they greatest, they made something that holds up fairly well across all platforms and lets you bring your content with you.
 
All this tells me is that young adults... (or kids with mommy and daddy's credit card) make stupid financial decisions. Since both are the target audience for this F2P game.

My nephew asks me to buy him skins and new seasons all the time for Fortnite.
I tell him that's not what gaming is about and walk away.
 
I like the game and both my son and I play it. I actually haven't enjoyed a video game as much as this since probably RTCW/ET. The building concept and speed of the engagements are exciting to say the least. There are other great visual games out there but they are just clones of one another and cost $60 to install and uninstall.
 
There's plenty of fun to be had playing Fortnite and you can do it all for free - many people decide to throw some money at the devs eventually, whether it be purchasing the battle pass or individual skins, etc.

Funny how a well-supported game bringing fun to millions is somehow "not what gaming is about" to the curmudgeons in this thread. I suppose the devs of Path of Exile also don't "get" what gaming is about, churning out content while only selling mtx?

I'd rather have the EPIC or GGG model for online multiplayer games if it means we get continuous development, because I don't see the same kind of commitment to the product coming from a lot of these studios running a "traditional" model.
 
Also keep in mind the game plays pretty well on consoles, PCs, and cell phones. While the shooting mechanics aren't they greatest, they made something that holds up fairly well across all platforms and lets you bring your content with you.
The game is actually remarkably optimized as it plays at 60 FPS on current generation iPhones at the equivalent of high settings on PC. It also plays at a stable 1440p/60 on the PS4 Pro and 4K/60 on the Xbox One X. With my PC I'm nearly always capped at 100 FPS with max settings.

Fortnite is currently the only battle royale game I play since it added a "fresh" and unique building aspect in a genre that is now full of essentially the same thing (i.e. PUBG, COD Blackout, H1Z1, etc). The developers are also extremely keen and responsive on implementing feedback from the community to further improve the game.

Epic deserves the success they've had thus far.
 
Mob (kid) appeal sells.... what else is new? It"s Epic's current cash cow but hopefully they actually make or sponsor a good game with the proceeds.
 
I agree completely there are many types of games and not every gamer has to enjoy the rage of the month. Heck I am playing less FPS and more single player as I get older just because of time and shifts in what I enjoy.

What does concern me is the amount of money the company makes from non-game play features like skins. I just seems gamers that put a lot of value in these things and pay for them just encourage more of the microtransation shenanigans we have been seeing from companies like EA.

Totally yelling get off my lawn but it just seems like gameplay while still important is being taken over by less substantial aspects.
 
I agree completely there are many types of games and not every gamer has to enjoy the rage of the month. Heck I am playing less FPS and more single player as I get older just because of time and shifts in what I enjoy.

What does concern me is the amount of money the company makes from non-game play features like skins. I just seems gamers that put a lot of value in these things and pay for them just encourage more of the microtransation shenanigans we have been seeing from companies like EA.

Totally yelling get off my lawn but it just seems like gameplay while still important is being taken over by less substantial aspects.

EA isn't being influenced by things like Fortnite, games like Fortnite are influenced by EA. EA's predatory practices predate even the complete fuckery of the mobile market.

Gameplay is still very important, more so than before I'd argue. These games need to have gameplay that gets people hooked and keeps them playing so they will want to "engage" with loot boxes and microtransactions. There is a reason companies hire psychologists and have them work with the dev teams in order to shape both the gameplay and spending models in a way that "encourages" spending. A game that lacks the gameplay to gain an audience won't be able to make money selling crap.
 
I am very soon 35 years old and was against Fortnite and their ilk for very long time but few of my friends kept bugging me to give it a try and so I did about a month ago, hell it was free so what did I have to lose but time. I hated to admit but it really is a good and well designed game. So good that I bought the battle pass two weeks ago. Totally not everybodys cup of tea but people calling it "garbage game" have no idea what they are talking about and probably just try to look edgy.

I am getting old and the panic building goes way above my head so I just concetrate on shooting and sniping while my friends do the building.
I am not into super realistic wargames, I was always a Quake/UT rocket jumper and Fortnite is like a happy inbetween, with building. When I do not have any big RPGs to play through Fortnite is my game of choice to play and simply relax with my friends with a beer or energy drink (or both) on desk.
 
My nephew asks me to buy him skins and new seasons all the time for Fortnite.
I tell him that's not what gaming is about and walk away.

It seems like you have no clue as to what gaming is about now. I know back in your day you walked to school barefoot in the snow to school 13 miles up hill each way. Today is a lot different.
 
I am very soon 35 years old and was against Fortnite and their ilk for very long time but few of my friends kept bugging me to give it a try and so I did about a month ago, hell it was free so what did I have to lose but time. I hated to admit but it really is a good and well designed game. So good that I bought the battle pass two weeks ago. Totally not everybodys cup of tea but people calling it "garbage game" have no idea what they are talking about and probably just try to look edgy.

I am getting old and the panic building goes way above my head so I just concetrate on shooting and sniping while my friends do the building.
I am not into super realistic wargames, I was always a Quake/UT rocket jumper and Fortnite is like a happy inbetween, with building. When I do not have any big RPGs to play through Fortnite is my game of choice to play and simply relax with my friends with a beer or energy drink (or both) on desk.

For me, I was never able to get my RL friends into playing a lot of PC shooters over the years - whether that was due to hardware limitations or just general interest I'm not sure. Then Fortnite rolled around and suddenly we had pretty regular squad games going, and honestly with a Discord going it was just like old times and like we were hanging out together again as we roamed the Fortnite countryside having endless laughs. Even my friend with nothing but a shitty laptop joined in and was able to play well enough. The game doesn't take itself too seriously and it accepts all levels of competition and skill.

After that they all picked up Overwatch for basically free in the Humble Bundle and they're asking me whether I need a copy...fucking no, I've had it for two years with no one to play with, but hell yeah I'll start playing again if it means they're getting back into PC gaming. Fortnite is successful because it's fun, and if it also serves as some sort of gaming icebreaker for a lot of folks then so much the better.
 
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I personally thought Realm Royale looked the most appealing out of all the battle royale games. Pubg looked buggy as hell, fortnite had polish but the building is janky, especially towards the end of a game. But ultimately I just don't understand the appeal of battle royale as a genre. I'd much rather play q3a if I want to play a pvp fps game. But that's cause I'm old I guess. It's all in the timing. This game is big because it hit the market at the right time with the right polish and was geared towards kids. We're I a kid now (or if it came out when q3a did) I'm sure I'd be all over it.
 
I personally thought Realm Royale looked the most appealing out of all the battle royale games. Pubg looked buggy as hell, fortnite had polish but the building is janky, especially towards the end of a game. But ultimately I just don't understand the appeal of battle royale as a genre. I'd much rather play q3a if I want to play a pvp fps game. But that's cause I'm old I guess. It's all in the timing. This game is big because it hit the market at the right time with the right polish and was geared towards kids. We're I a kid now (or if it came out when q3a did) I'm sure I'd be all over it.

What's puzzling to me is how popular something like BR has become when "hardcore" modes in many other games have traditionally been super unpopular. The hardcore servers in Battlefield games (for example) and hardcore modes in ARPGs are generally seen as too punishing for your average joe gamer, but BR is totally exempt from this for some reason.

The only element that really strikes me as "geared toward kids" is the fact that the game is free and kids tend to have no money - plus it's available on almost any device, console, or PC, so kids can get it anywhere. Otherwise I'd simply say that the game is styled in a way that appeals to a wide variety of demographics from kids to adults. TF2 had a similar kind of approach in that it eschewed the gritty visuals of a lot of other shooters in favor of a stylized somewhat-cartoony look, yet the game was full of exploding bodies and hardly targeted at kids.
 
I hope Epic makes some good games with that money. Some good SP only titles would be nice to. UE4 seems to be very capable and I'd love to see the engine put in the hands of competent developers.
 
I have a daughter that plays Fortnite on a PS4. She plays with some people she goes to school with (middle school).
This is her first "shooter" she has ever been interested in. She does play the game, but I think the social experience is a big part of it for her. Against my advice, we (mom & dad) do let her spend her money on the game if she wants. However, it's her money and I always tell her its a waste.
At some point, I think you have to let kids make decisions about money. If she doesn't have money, the answer is no. I need her to learn money spent doesn't come back. Honestly, I see her buy skins or dance moves, I kind of shake my head and walk away.
 
I have a daughter that plays Fortnite on a PS4. She plays with some people she goes to school with (middle school).
This is her first "shooter" she has ever been interested in. She does play the game, but I think the social experience is a big part of it for her. Against my advice, we (mom & dad) do let her spend her money on the game if she wants. However, it's her money and I always tell her its a waste.
At some point, I think you have to let kids make decisions about money. If she doesn't have money, the answer is no. I need her to learn money spent doesn't come back. Honestly, I see her buy skins or dance moves, I kind of shake my head and walk away.

This place regularly spends $600, $800, or $1000+ on video cards to play games and wants to be uppity about people spending money on skins or dance moves for a completely free game. How is that a waste again? So you want your daughter to learn that you shouldn’t be rewarded/compensated for your work?

You all are probably a blast to hang out with and are the people when the check comes for four people make us add in that you had water and not iced tea.

Y’all need to get out more.
 
What's puzzling to me is how popular something like BR has become when "hardcore" modes in many other games have traditionally been super unpopular. The hardcore servers in Battlefield games (for example) and hardcore modes in ARPGs are generally seen as too punishing for your average joe gamer, but BR is totally exempt from this for some reason.

The only element that really strikes me as "geared toward kids" is the fact that the game is free and kids tend to have no money - plus it's available on almost any device, console, or PC, so kids can get it anywhere. Otherwise I'd simply say that the game is styled in a way that appeals to a wide variety of demographics from kids to adults. TF2 had a similar kind of approach in that it eschewed the gritty visuals of a lot of other shooters in favor of a stylized somewhat-cartoony look, yet the game was full of exploding bodies and hardly targeted at kids.
That's an interesting observation on the hardcore aspect of BR, and I think your assessment is right on the money, about being a social thing. Again it's a timing thing. For similar reasons WoW was the gaming phenomenon that it was.

As far as it being geared towards kids, ya got me lol it's all in the art style. I felt the same way about tf2 and borderlands.
This place regularly spends $600, $800, or $1000+ on video cards to play games and wants to be uppity about people spending money on skins or dance moves for a completely free game. How is that a waste again? So you want your daughter to learn that you shouldn’t be rewarded/compensated for your work?

You all are probably a blast to hang out with and are the people when the check comes for four people make us add in that you had water and not iced tea.

Y’all need to get out more.
Lol at comparing videogame cosmetics to gpus. A+ post will read again for the lulz. If you can't understand why some folks might consider cosmetics a silly thing on which to spend money, then idk what to tell ya!
 
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I have a daughter that plays Fortnite on a PS4. She plays with some people she goes to school with (middle school).
This is her first "shooter" she has ever been interested in. She does play the game, but I think the social experience is a big part of it for her. Against my advice, we (mom & dad) do let her spend her money on the game if she wants. However, it's her money and I always tell her its a waste.
At some point, I think you have to let kids make decisions about money. If she doesn't have money, the answer is no. I need her to learn money spent doesn't come back. Honestly, I see her buy skins or dance moves, I kind of shake my head and walk away.

If I had kids only thing I would allow him/her to buy (meaning me paying) is the battle pass that allows him/her to earn skins through sheer gameplay. And Vbucks too so if he/she earns enough of them and has patience to save up he/she can buy the desired skin whenever it happens to be on sale at the marketplace.
 
I applaud Epic Games. In the end, it is all about the money.

Regardless if you all don't like this game, you obviously cannot deny that it is here to stay and it has tremendous popularity for a reason.

Epic has released a free to play titan with near weekly patches and fixes, a plethora of on going changes(new weapons, game modes, skins, and seasons) throughout the year along with outstanding responses to the community concerns.
And they're only getting started.


This ladies and gentlemen is how it's done.
 
This place regularly spends $600, $800, or $1000+ on video cards to play games and wants to be uppity about people spending money on skins or dance moves for a completely free game. How is that a waste again? So you want your daughter to learn that you shouldn’t be rewarded/compensated for your work?

You all are probably a blast to hang out with and are the people when the check comes for four people make us add in that you had water and not iced tea.

Y’all need to get out more.
I'm allowed to be a grumpy old man - I've earned it. I get your point, but I do want to impart that what she is buying is virtual and has no tangible value. A video card is tangible. BTW - I don't upgrade like I used to. If I had all the money I've pissed away over the years, I'd have a lot more than I do now.
(Don't bring up my Steam collection as not being tangible please - that's not fair).
 
I always felt like people say "This game sucks" in threads like this is a form of mental masturbation for them to look better then the "mainstream". I don't care for the game either. Wouldn't call it shit...cause how the hell do you make $3billion with shit? Yeah it might not be the best game of all time, but hell man...if I made $1billion with a game that would be incredible...but $3bilion? That's like freaking 3 times more incredible :)

Lots and lots of microtransactions. They piece meal it out.

My nephew ran up a tab of $300 on my sister's credit card in only a week. Three - hundred - dollars. That's an insane pricetag for any *full* game.

Sure, they claim you can obtain it all for free, but what happens is a group of friends like to play together and it only takes one to overpay for a new pack or level. Suddenly, the others of the group follow suit because they all want to be together again.
 
Lots and lots of microtransactions. They piece meal it out.

My nephew ran up a tab of $300 on my sister's credit card in only a week. Three - hundred - dollars. That's an insane pricetag for any *full* game.

Sure, they claim you can obtain it all for free, but what happens is a group of friends like to play together and it only takes one to overpay for a new pack or level. Suddenly, the others of the group follow suit because they all want to be together again.

$300 in a week on Fortnite?!? That just means your sister and nephew are retarded. Also, there is no paying money to “stay together” in Fortnite, everyone can play together. Your nephew spent a bunch on money on cosmetics because he was given unlimited access to a credit card and doesn’t understand money.
 
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