Fortnite has firmly captured the attention of gamers, and Epic Games has laid a solid foundation to reach this point. With the recent changes to the availability of items on the game’s battle pass, it becomes clear that longevity is a crucial aspect of their plan. This raises the question: just how many more years does this game have?
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How do live-service games stay alive?
From now on in Fortnite, items that appear in the battle pass might be added to the in-game shop at least 18 months after the respective battle pass expires. This accomplishes two things at once by satisfying fans who are worried about potentially missing out while also incentivizing early purchases. 18 months is a long time to wait, and each new battle pass adds another one and a half years to the assumption that the game will survive. Considering the widespread layoffs affecting the gaming industry, even impacting the Epic Games team, this might seem rather challenging. There is no definite answer to how long Fortnite intends to last, but we can infer a general idea based on all the elements that contribute to the gaming experience.
Few can match it. Screenshot by Destructoid
There are only a few games that have truly withstood the test of time in such a remarkable way. As the years pass, it seems that this is the space that this game aims to occupy. As of 2024, World of Warcraft is still extremely popular, reaching active user numbers of seven million as it approaches its 20th year online. Games like MapleStory and Final Fantasy 14 have also demonstrated similar aspirations for longevity, and what these games have in common is that they are MMOs.
Being an MMO may not be the only way to keep players coming back, but for the live-service model, these trends suggest that it could be the most effective. How does this factor into Fortnite? (yes, we’re still talking about Fortnite). Part of it has to do with its consistently high player count and emphasis on interaction. Fortnite is not exactly an MMO, but it is moving in that direction.
Constant reinvention
Switching up your look can make a big difference, to borrow from Megan Thee Stallion. Image via Epic Games
The game has undergone numerous changes. Fortnite is no stranger to reinvention. The type of game showcased in 2017 is significantly different from what its user base enjoys today. Fortnite: Save the World emphasized PvE co-op action, and the game’s building mechanics were derived from those survival elements. Now, building is mainly used in a strategic and competitive context as Fortnite has evolved. The focus for most players is on the battle royale elements, which it is best known for. Epic Games has incorporated a particularly addictive gaming loop with the sense of risk and reward that keeps players coming back for more, which is great, but even games known for longevity and engaging loops have come to an end. Overwatch and Counter Strike are prime examples of this.
Part of what sets Fortnite apart is the way its battle pass functions. Along with these recent changes, its basic format that offers free players ways to customize and enhance their experience provides a sense of investment. If you played in the previous season, you might have come across some cool summer back bling or weapon wraps. The desire to see them in action and search for new items adds to the allure. However, it can all become stale over time, so what comes next?
How to keep the hype going
Constant change and incorporating new trends. Art by Epic Games
What can be done? Can things be changed without fundamentally altering the experience and alienating its dedicated fans? Ideally, the live service game provides continuous ways to keep things fresh. This has been Fortnite’s domain, and fortunately, it won’t have to worry about aging for quite some time. Fortnite Rocket Racing, LEGO Fortnite (which largely draws from its Save the World foundation), and Fortnite Festival are all new ways to enjoy what Epic Games has to offer. Disney has shown interest and is creating an experience within the game that players have yet to see. It seems that all of this is happening because Fortnite is no longer just a game; it has become a platform.
Fortnite is constantly offering new ways to play while refining what its players love. Keeping it fresh appears to be the key. Games like Apex Legends seem somewhat limited, especially considering the fact that there are not many diverse ways to play it. The fundamentals are all the same, and that’s not to say one game is better than the other, but Fortnite does offer variety in a way that its contemporaries have not fully grasped.
So just how many years does Fortnite really have?
If there are meaningfully different games to play within the game, you can’t get tired of it as quickly. That’s why there is always so much to do in Roblox and Minecraft, which have both been around for 18 and 13 years respectively. Seven-year-old Fortnite aims to become a pillar in the same way as these giants if gamers don’t already consider it one. If you were getting bored of Fortnite, it might be time to accept that it isn’t going anywhere, because from the looks of it, Epic Games is just getting started.
