How Fortnite came to success in eSports

In 2017, Fortnite came out. A quirky mix of Minecraft and cartoon style in a "battle royale" wrapper, it quickly gained momentum and attention. At the time, the game was seen as a kind of ideological opponent of PUBG, but only for a wider audience.

By modern standards PUBG is still a bit harsh, but Fortnite with its Deadpool skins and pink guns suited all ages. Creating games for the masses is not only following the mainstream, it's the ability to set that mainstream current.

Fortnite broke all records and cemented its title as the best "Battle Royal," but Epic Games had other plans for its brainchild. In 2018, they poured a record $100,000,000 into the game for the development of cyber sports...

The internal controversy surrounding Fortnite

It would seem that after such an investment Fortnite is already doomed to success. But Epic Games did an ambiguous thing, they spoiled the overall picture: they limited the prize funds, securing the right to hold tournaments on their own, and all that $100 million turned out to be just a regular financial plan.

The huge infusion of money was a move, but not everyone appreciated it. In 2019 NaVi disbanded the roster, deeming the money a bad motivation in the long run, and the game itself disappointed them. Team Secret and HellRaisers did the same.

But not everyone turned out to be so critical. Prominent lineups like Fnatic, FaZe Clan, Cloud9, and Virtus.pro believe in the future of E-sport in Fortnite.

Fortnite's current place in cybersports

Fortnite is the proud bronze medalist in eSports prize money, second only to Dota 2 and CS:GO.

The largest tournament of the game, the Fortnite World Cup 2019 drew more than $30,000,000, $15 million each for singles and the same amount for doubles winners.

But high prizes are a double-edged sword. The dynamic "battle royale," where you simultaneously build skyscrapers, dismantle them, and shoot back at your enemies - it's all a bit exhausting. Many cyber athletes and even complain of professional burnout. High rewards played a cruel joke with Fortnite, because some players have only money. But it's not so long before cyber sports get back on track and we find out the true state of affairs and how much a shot at a pixel is really worth.