Epic Games, the creator of the wildly popular battle royale game Fortnite, has announced a major live event called "The Big Bang" that is set to take place on December 2nd at 2pm ET. This event, described as a new beginning for Fortnite, will mark the game's apparent transition to a significant new chapter. As part of this transition, Fortnite is currently hosting a shortened "OG" throwback season that brings back the game's original island locale and familiar weapons and items from earlier versions.
Players will have the opportunity to jump into the event 30 minutes in advance, and can participate in parties of up to four players. Additionally, Epic Games has stated that cloud streaming services can be used to play Fortnite for those who are unable to run the game natively on their devices. This move towards cloud streaming reflects the growing trend in the gaming industry towards cloud-based gaming experiences.
Despite being released six years ago, Fortnite continues to maintain a massive player base, with an estimated 241 million players over the last 30 days, as reported by third party data from ActivePlayer. In fact, earlier this month, Epic Games announced that the launch of the OG season resulted in the largest day in the game's history, with nearly 45 million players on November 4th. This is a testament to the enduring popularity and appeal of the game.
However, even Fortnite has not been immune to economic shifts in the industry. Like many game developers, Epic Games faced layoffs this year, cutting 830 people in September and divesting itself of two subsidiaries. The company also raised the price of its in-game currency, V-Bucks, around the same time. These adjustments were made in response to economic factors such as inflation and currency fluctuations. Epic Games stated in a blog post that it recently raised prices across the United Kingdom, Canada, and Mexico.
The severity of the price increases for V-Bucks depends on the amount being purchased. For example, in the United States, a basic bundle of 800 V-Bucks will rise from the current price of $7.99 to $8.99 in a month, while the largest pack of 13,500 V-Bucks will increase from $79.99 to $89.99. These price adjustments reflect the ongoing challenges faced by game developers in balancing the costs of game development and the expectations of players.
As Fortnite prepares for its major live event, "The Big Bang," and the transition to a new chapter, it is clear that the game's popularity remains strong. However, it is also important to recognize the economic realities that game developers face, as they navigate the ever-changing landscape of the gaming industry.
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