Context (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Media Studies): Revision Note

Fortnite is a free-to-play multiplayer video game franchise produced by Epic Games

It was launched in July 2017 and is available across multiple platforms and devices, making it widely accessible

The franchise includes three main game modes:

• Fortnite: Battle Royale (most popular) - 100 players fight until only the last one remains

• Fortnite: Save the World - Team survival mode against zombie-like creatures

• Fortnite: Creative - Design, build and play your own custom games within private islands

Fortnite: Battle Royale became the most successful free-to-play video game ever shortly after its release

• It made approximately $1.2 billion in its first 10 months, showing huge global popularity

• The franchise generated around $2.4 billion in revenue in 2018, highlighting its economic success

The shift to a free-to-play model (2018) increased accessibility and boosted player numbers worldwide

The success of Fortnite significantly increased the value of Epic Games from $825 million (2012) to $5.8 billion (2018)

The game has also won awards such as “Best Ongoing Game” (PC Gamer and IGN, 2018), showing industry recognition

In Battle Royale, 100 players are dropped onto an island from a flying bus

The island is described as being under threat from a natural disaster, creating urgency and tension

The aim is to survive and be the last player left

Players collect weapons and resources to stay alive

They can also build structures like forts, adding creativity

A storm shrinks the map, forcing players closer together

This increases tension and competition as the game goes on

Fortnite is a genre hybrid (fusion game) combining:

• Combat games —survival and fighting action

• Construction/building games — similar concept to Minecraft

This hybrid genre makes the game appealing to a wide audience, including both competitive and creative players

The audience for video games as a whole has widened as the variety of game genres has increased

The rise of free-to-play games and mobile gaming has made games more accessible to a global audience

High-quality games can now be played on a range of devices including phones, tablets, consoles and PCs, which has increased their popularity

eSports (competitive gaming) has become very popular

Professional players compete in tournaments watched by millions on platforms like Twitch

Events can fill large stadiums, similar to traditional sports

This shows gaming is now a global entertainment industry and spectator sport