Fortnite has once again captured the entire world’s attention with its OG update, catapulting its player engagement to unprecedented heights. The update, designed to pay a nostalgic homage to the game’s roots while incorporating some of its newer features, has seen an astounding influx of nearly 45 million players, setting a new record in Fortnite’s illustrious history.
Since it was first released in 2017, Fortnite has consistently reinvented the battle royale genre, influencing a myriad of other multiplayer titles. Its success has been unparalleled, but the OG update has propelled the game into a new realm of popularity.
According to statistics from the unofficial but reliable site Fortnite.GG, the free-to-play battle royale witnessed a 24-hour peak of 3.9 million concurrent players following the update’s release. This is a significant increase from the roughly two million concurrent players throughout September and October, surpassing the previous peak of 2.8 million players it set in August during Chapter 4 Season 4. However, perhaps more importantly, Fortnite itself is tooting its horn, with the official social media account confirming that the OG Fortnite update set the “biggest day in Fortnite’s history” with the aforementioned number of players posting “102 MILLION hours of play.”
Way to start things off with a big bang 💥
We're blown away by the response to #FortniteOG. Yesterday was the biggest day in Fortnite’s history with over 44.7 MILLION players jumping in and 102 MILLION hours of play.
To all Fortnite players, OG and new, THANK YOU!
— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) November 5, 2023
The OG update, which came out on November 2, reintroduces the beloved original Fortnite map, a revolutionary virtual landscape that changed not just battle royale games but the video game industry as a whole. Players can once again go to some of the game’s most iconic locations like Tilted Towers, Paradise Palms, and Salty Springs. Despite the nostalgic return, the game retains its evolutionary movements like sprinting and mantling, ensuring a seamless blend of the old and the new.
This strategic move comes at a time when Epic Games has faced financial struggles, resulting in the layoff of some 800 or so employees. CEO Tim Sweeney candidly expressed in an internal memo that Fortnite’s growth is primarily driven by creator content with significant revenue sharing, a lower margin business when compared to the initial surge of Fortnite Battle Royale. This financial context adds a layer of significance to the OG update’s success, as it could signal a resurgence for the game and the company.
Fortnite’s OG update is no mere nostalgia trip; it marks the beginning of a series of retro seasons. According to a blog post by the Fortnite team, the game will sequentially reintroduce content from its earlier seasons, allowing players to relive their glory days. For instance, Season 5 will bring back Season 2, reintroducing iconic points of interest. This strategy mirrors the World of Warcraft Classic model and is expected to sustain and amplify player engagement.
The update has elicited mixed reactions from the player base. Veterans are relearning the game, noting the scarcity of ammo and shields, which has led to shorter games and less third-party encounters. Others appreciate the need for the increased skill level, especially for mid-long range combat, as certain overpowered weapons and items have been toned down. New players and those accustomed to the no-build mode are adjusting to the open spaces and limited mobility options, leading to more cautious gameplay.
Content creators and streamers, some of whom had moved away from Fortnite, are expected to flock back to the game, buoyed by the update’s excitement. The alteration in the battle pass, offering fewer items and V-Bucks than usual, has raised questions about Epic’s motives, whether it’s maximizing profits or a consequence of reduced content creation capacity due to recent layoffs.
With its record-breaking player engagement, Epic Games has reasserted Fortnite’s dominance in the supposedly dying battle royale genre. While it remains to be seen how the developer will respond to the update’s success and the player feedback, it’s clear that Fortnite’s OG update has rekindled the magic that made the game a cultural phenomenon.
It remains to be seen if its main competition, including Apex Legends, will take a similar dip into nostalgia-filled waters. But, we’re pretty sure Call of Duty will try and take a page out of this book, especially after what it did earlier this year.
