Fortnite Explained: Gameplay, Culture, and Child Development

Introduction

Even people who do not play video games have heard of the popular game Fortnite. This game, which has become the rage among video players — especially younger ones — has become a pop culture sensation. Gamers play the game, but even non-players have incorporated elements of it into their everyday lives. For example, popular dances like the Floss went viral largely because of Fortnite. In this way, Fortnite has done something that only the most popular video games are able to do: it has passed beyond the world of gaming and become a significant part of popular culture.

What Is Fortnite?

Fortnite is a video game released by Epic Games on July 21, 2017. Although now popular as a free game, Fortnite was initially released as an early-access title, meaning the game was still in development but could be purchased at the time of release. Its initial release price was $59.99 (LeBoeuf, 2018). In the paid version, the game was designed as an open-world survival game set on a modern-day Earth with a drastically reduced human population. It included survival elements somewhat similar to the popular game Minecraft, in that players had to "collect resources, make tools and weapons, and try to stay alive as long as possible" (LeBoeuf, 2018).

While the initial Fortnite game saw modest popularity, the game really hit its stride when Epic Games released Fortnite Battle Royale. This version was free, making it accessible to all gamers, which undoubtedly contributed to its popularity. However, the real secret to its success is probably the difference in gameplay between the free Battle Royale version and the original Fortnite title. Rather than a straightforward survivalist game, the Battle Royale version pits player against player in a format known as the battle royale.

A battle royale game is one "that has strong elements of last man standing gameplay. Players are often locked in tussles with opponents, with the core objective being that you must be the only competitor who survives the action" (Plarium, 2017). In Fortnite, these battles are epic: 100 players begin the fight for survival, and only one can win by outlasting all others. This competitive style of gameplay is taken very seriously; unlike many other online multiplayer games, collaboration is strongly discouraged in Fortnite. In fact, unless a player is in teams mode, collaborating with other players can result in a ban.

Fortnite Battle Royale became such a massive hit — with millions of players within weeks of its release — that it has become virtually synonymous with the game itself. When most people discuss Fortnite, they are really referring to Fortnite Battle Royale.

How to Get and Play Fortnite

Fortnite is a free, downloadable game. To get it, a player can download the Epic Games launcher and navigate to the Fortnite page. Because the game is free, installation requires no purchase. The game is available on multiple platforms, including computers (PC and Mac), Xbox, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices. Players who want access to Save the World modes or other non-multiplayer modes still have the option to purchase the original game.

One reason Fortnite is so popular is that, unlike some other online multiplayer games, players do not need to customize their characters before playing. The game comes with default characters known as skins, and players are automatically assigned a skin when they open the game. Players can also purchase different skins from the in-game store.

Fortnite skins are an important element of the game. There are five basic types: legendary, epic, rare, uncommon, and common. Skins may also be referred to as outfits. Some people use the term "Fortnite costumes," though this is less common within gaming circles — it more typically refers to real-world physical costumes. While different skins can make players look very different from one another, it is important to understand that they do not affect gameplay. All skins have the same abilities and weaknesses, regardless of their physical appearances. Players can, however, gain additional capabilities by collecting the various weapons and tools found throughout the game world.

Players begin in a lobby, where they choose a mode: teams, duos, or solo. After selecting a mode, the player hits the play button and is placed on a map. Once enough players have joined, everyone boards a battle bus that flies above the map. The bus travels across the map, and each player chooses where to drop into the game. The drop is quite literal — players skydive from the bus to a physical location on the map below.

Every player begins with one melee weapon: a pickax. With the pickax, players can harvest materials from buildings to construct their own structures. These structures can serve as a home base or a refuge from other players, but they can be entered by opponents and can be destroyed. Because a pickax alone is unlikely to carry a player to victory, it is important to search the map for additional weapons, tools, and loot such as bandages and shield potions. These items can be found in chests located inside buildings across the map. All chests contain at least three items. Players can carry unlimited amounts of some items, such as ammunition, but are limited to five slots for weapons, potions, and bandages. Available weapons include most types of guns, grenades, and bows.

Because Fortnite Battle Royale is a last-man-standing game, a solo player who encounters an opponent must either attempt to eliminate that player or evade a stronger one. In team play, the same rules apply when facing players from opposing teams; however, a defeat in battle does not result in immediate elimination, because teammates have the opportunity to revive a fallen player within a limited time window.

Effects of Fortnite on Child Development

Numerous studies have examined the impact of video games on child development, as video games — particularly violent ones — are frequently blamed for broader societal problems. Currently, violent video games are being blamed for the prevalence of mass shootings in the United States, despite the fact that violent video games are popular in many other countries that do not share the same problem. It is also worth noting that while Fortnite does contain violence, its cartoonish visual style makes it far less graphic than other popular titles such as the Call of Duty or Halo series.

According to psychologist Mike Brooks, playing Fortnite is not inherently dangerous for a child (2018). However, that does not mean Fortnite cannot exacerbate existing problems, or that the amount of time spent playing cannot become problematic. To assess whether a child's Fortnite play has become an issue, one must weigh the game's benefits against its potential downsides.

The primary benefit of Fortnite may simply be that it is fun — a benefit that should not be dismissed when evaluating recreational activities. When played in groups or teams, it can foster cooperation and teamwork. Whether played solo or with others, the game promotes problem-solving. However, because Fortnite is so engaging, it can easily become extremely time-consuming. The concern is not that playing video games is inherently harmful in itself; rather, it is that excessive playtime tends to displace other physiological and psychological needs, such as sleep, physical activity, in-person social interaction, academic work, and other hobbies. While every child is different, the general guideline is that children should be limited to two to three hours of recreational screen time per day (Brooks, 2018). Once children exceed this threshold, the potential negatives of a game can begin to outweigh its positives.

Conclusion

Fortnite is an extremely popular video game that has come to dominate much of popular culture. Many parents are understandably concerned about how invested their children have become in the game. Between its colorful graphics, problem-solving challenges, and entertaining extras like skins and emotes, Fortnite can be immensely engaging. For parents, however, the game is nothing to fear when approached with moderation. Played within reasonable time limits, Fortnite is not only harmless but can genuinely benefit children by promoting teamwork and problem-solving. Beyond individual players, the community-building power of the game has transcended the screen, as evidenced by how ubiquitous elements like Fortnite dances have become in everyday modern culture.

References

Brooks, Mike. "Is Fortnite Ruining Your Kid?" Psychology Today. 18 September 2018. Accessed 10 August 2019.

Kaufman, Sarah. "The Dances in 'Fortnite' Have Become Nearly as Contagious as the Game." The Washington Post. 10 September 2018. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/09/10/the-dances-in-fortnite-have-become-nearly-as-contagious-as-the-game/. Accessed 10 August 2019.

LeBoeuf, Sarah. "What Is 'Fortnite'? A Look at the Video Game That Has Become a Phenomenon." NBC News. 30 June 2018. Accessed 10 August 2019.

Plarium Staff. "What Are Battle Royale Games? A Beginner's Guide to the Video Game Phenomenon." Plarium. 7 April 2019. https://plarium.com/en/blog/battle-royale-games/. Accessed 10 August 2019.