Fortnite is Hemorrhaging Players at an Alarming Rate: What’s Going On?
Jul 15, 2024
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Fortnite was once atop the video game world, drawing in millions of gamers worldwide. While it remains popular, the game has seen its playing rate dip in recent seasons and chapters.
What’s happening to one of the most popular titles in video game history? Here’s what you need to know about Fortnite’s status in 2024.
How Many Players Has Fortnite Lost?
Fortnite quickly ascended after its 2017 release, reaching 125 million players in only one year. The battle royale game was among the first of its kind, letting players compete with other gamers worldwide to see who could be the last player standing. Fortnite has been one of the top video games in the modern era, but its player participation has dipped.
Active Player tracks the number of people playing online games, noting the peak count and the monthly averages. The site also tracks the decrease in players, a metric you can see with Fortnite. Active Player says the game has lost players in the last five months, with January losing 752,000 players once 2024 began.
While the holidays naturally have more players, Fortnite has seen a consistent drop in players this year. For instance, the game lost 422,000 players in April — a stark contrast from April 2023’s gain of 1 million players. Fortnite is in the midst of chapter five, releasing seasons every few months. Time will tell if the game can rekindle player interest.
Why Is Fortnite Losing So Many Users?
Fortnite is experiencing a consistent decline in 2024, so what has happened to the popular game? Here are five reasons the famous title has struggled this year.
1. Changing Directions
Fortnite has changed significantly since its 2017 release. While it’s still a battle royale at heart, the game has taken different directions with new game modes. For example, Epic Games has taken advantage of the metaverse and strayed from its original format. The developer has added more features to Fortnite, including concerts and esports.
The metaverse isn’t directly responsible for a player exodus. However, it symbolizes Epic Games’ strategy to recuperate lost players by adding new features. Additionally, Fortnite has added new game modes and changed battle royale, the foundational piece of the game. Some day-one players aren’t satisfied with the maps and how the game has swayed.
2. Microtransactions
Playing for free was one of the attractive features of Fortnite. While it’s still free, microtransactions have harmed the reputation of games. In 2023, the government ordered Epic Games to pay a $245 million fine for its misconceptions with in-app purchases. Fortnite doesn’t require microtransactions to play the base game, but they contribute to the experience.
While Fortnite has faced criticism for it, microtransactions are prominent across the video game industry. NBA 2k features MyCAREER and MyTEAM in each edition, and players can use virtual currency (VC) to upgrade their players. While you can play to earn VC, many users pay for the in-game funds with real money. Therefore, they can make their players better in less time.
3. Lack of Updates
Older video games contained all the content inside the disc. Nowadays, developers can add content and fix bugs by sending software updates. Players look forward to new content, whether new maps, skins or weapons. One of the world’s most successful games should be up to the task. However, Fortnite users have complained about the lack of updates.
The game modes with the most players will naturally see the most updates. Therefore, developers are likely to focus on keeping battle royale. However, the game has seen a decline in updates outside its new chapters. You don’t receive as much new content as you used to. Players also struggle to play specific games — such as Rocket Racing — causing stagnation.
4. Epic Games Layoffs
Why do players see fewer updates? Part of the reason could be the reduced staff working on the game. Last year, Epic Games announced it would lay off 16% of its staff because of overspending and insufficient revenue. While Fortnite is a primary focus for the developer, the layoffs impact the famous battle royale and other titles at Epic Games.
Losing staff trickles down and affects the video game you run. For example, laying off 16% of the workforce means cutting character artists, senior engineers or other integral employees. You can already see the ramifications in Fortnite with unpopular skins and less engaging stories. Tiny details like user movement and malfunctioning mods have angered seasoned gamers.
5. Other Battle Royale Games Emerging
Fortnite was one of the first battle royale games on the market. While Minecraft and Arma 2 had battle royale features, Fortnite and PUBG kickstarted a new generation of games. The Epic Games title has had the luxury of being one of the first titles of its kind. Gamers have stuck with it since the beginning, but the market has become more saturated with battle royales.
Fortnite inspired other developers to create battle royale games and compete with Epic Games. For instance, Call of Duty: Warzone debuted in spring 2020 to give its loyal fanbase a battle royale. Electronic Arts (EA) brought Apex Legends to the Nintendo Switch to increase participation in its free game. The rising popularity has stolen some thunder from Fortnite.
Monitoring the Future of Fortnite
While it has declined, Fortnite isn’t likely to leave anytime soon. However, the monthly player count is worth watching for the near future. What can Epic Games do to stop the hemorrhaging? The developer could benefit from appealing to longtime players who have stopped playing. Creating engaging chapters and seasons is also crucial to keeping player participation high.
