How Fortnite Contributed to The eSports Revolution

Fortnite has become one of the most popular games in the world since its release back in 2017. It’s addictive. It’s competitive.

It’s morphed into one of the most played games in the world and has become a global competitive eSports sensation, attracting millions of players and fans worldwide, as well as bettors across GGBET. 

Fortnite’s explosion onto the scene

Fortnite exploded onto the scene when it was first released in 2017. The concept is relatively simple whereby players cooperate to survive but the true big hitter quickly became Fortnite’s Battle Royale mode. Battle Royale matches 100 players against each other in what is a last-man-standing battlefield shoot-up.

Such a style of gameplay was also instrumental in Apex Legends but what sets Fortnite apart is its unique blend of shooting, strategy, and resource gathering which creates an extra dimension of complexity and wit.

The developers behind Fortnite, Epic Games quickly saw how popular the game was becoming and fans’ love of Battle Royale and thus in 2019 announced the creation of the Fortnite World Cup: a huge tournament with a prize pool of $30 million!

The competition’s final took place at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York and was won by gamer Kyle “Bugha” Giersforf who became an overnight eGaming sensation. 

Fortnite competitions and structures

Nowadays Fortnite competitions encompass varied types of tournaments and events both online and offline in the physical real world. The official circuit endorsed by Epic Games creates numerous formats catering to individual players and teams alike. Examples of Fortnite competitions therefore include:

• Solo, pairs, and squad tournaments: Relatively self-explanatory, solo competitions are for individual players to compete, pairs (or duo) are when teams of two battle it out for supremacy, and squad tournaments are for teams of four or more.
• Arena Mode: Arena mode is where players are ranked via a matchmaking system where players earn points otherwise known as Hype by doing well in games and eliminating their opponents. The higher the Hype, then the higher the caliber of competitions and opponents that they have access to. This mode provides a path for novices to climb the ladder all the way to eSports stardom.
• Fortnite Champion Series: The Fortnite Champion Series (FNCS) is a seasonal competitive tournament for the best Fortnite players and is run multiple times a year. Divided into regions, players from all over the world contest at the highest level and the events feature cash prizes and a route to qualify for larger tournaments including the FNCS Grand Final where the best players from each world region battle it out.
• Fortnite World Cup: Since Bugha lifted the Fortnite World Cup in 2019, we’re still waiting for the second. Originally earmarked for 2020, the second Fortnite World Cup was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Rumors have been circulating about a 2024 installment but it remains to be seen when and where the next Fortnite World Cup will take place. 

Famous Fortnite eSports Teams and Players

With the rapid ascension of Fortnite and eSports comes fame for players who hit the big time. Some notable players and teams across the Fortnite scene include the following:

• Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf: Remember Bugha? He is the chap who won the inaugural Fortnite World Cup back in 2019. Bugha became an eSports sensation after his huge win and he’s lauded for his composure that he keeps under pressure amongst his arsenal of Fortnite skills that continue to make him a competitor across Fortnite tournaments worldwide.
• Benjy “Benjyfishy” Fish: Benjyfishy was a prominent figure across Fortnite competitions in Europe and he earned a reputation as one of the best players worldwide thanks to his strategic nuance and skills. In 2022 Benjyfishy retired as a Fortnite player to pursue a career in VALORANT.
• “Mongraal” Kyle Jackson: Another sharpshooter on the European circuit is Mongraal. Celebrated worldwide for his fast building and editing skills, he consistently places high at the Fortnite Champion Series (FNCS) and other major tournaments. This has earned him a loyal following on streaming platforms such as Twitch and YouTube.
• Peterbot: Peterbot is claimed to be one of the best active Fortnite players in the world and he has numerous accolades to his name including a Grand Finals FNCS win in 2022.
• Pollo: Mexican wunderkind Pollo is mentioned in the same breath as Peterbot as being one of the best active players of Fortnite and after teaming up, the duo have had some impressive performances such as winning the FNCS Grand Finals for Chapter 5 Season 2 and topping the leaderboard. It’s safe to say that Pollo and Peterbot have set the bar high.