How many years does the game have left? – Destructoid

Fortnite has a hold on gamers, and Epic Games has done plenty of groundwork to get there. With the new changes to the availability of items in the game’s Battle Pass, it’s clear that longevity is part of the plan. All of which begs the question: how many years does this game have left?

How do live services stay alive?

From now on in FortniteItems that appear in the Battle Pass can be added to the in-game shop for at least 18 months after the Battle Pass expires. This solves two things at once by sating fans annoyed about potentially missing out on a game, while also incentivizing early purchases. 18 months is a long time to wait, and every new Battle Pass means adding another year and a half to that wait, assuming the game will survive. Given the rampant layoffs currently sweeping across the gaming world, even the Epic Games team, this might seem insane. There is no clear answer to the question of how long Fortnite wants to stay alive, but we can form a general idea based on all the components that make up the experience.

There are few games that have stood the test of time in such a way. As the years go by, however, it seems more like this is the space this game wants to be in. As of 2024, World of Warcraft is still immensely popular, reaching active user numbers of seven million as it approaches its 20th year online. Games like Maplestory And Final Fantasy 14 all have a similar ambition to last, and what all 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 show it may be the best. How does that play into Fortnite? (yes we are still talking about Fortnite). This is partly due to the consistently high number of players and the emphasis on interaction. Fortnite isn’t really an MMO, but it comes close.

Constant reinvention

Many changes have been made to the game. Fortnite is no stranger to reinvention. The type of games that were shown in 2017 are largely different from what the user base enjoys now. Fortnite: Save the World highlighted PvE co-op action. The game’s building mechanics are derived from those survival elements. Now building is used almost entirely in a strategic and competitive context as Fortnite has transformed. The focus for most players is on the battle royale elements, which is what it is best known for. Epic Games has added a particularly addictive game loop with a sense of risk and reward that keeps players coming back for more, which is great, but even games known for their longevity and fun loops have come and gone. Overwatch and Counter Strike are wonderful examples of this.

Part of what determines Fortnite What’s different is the way the battle pass functions. Coupled with the recent changes, the base format that gives free players ways to accessorize and customize their experience comes with a level of investment. If you played last season, you may have come across some nice summery back bling or weapon wraps. Seeing that in action and hunting for new gear adds to the fun. It can all get boring though, so what comes next?

How to keep the hype going

What is there to do? Can things be changed without fundamentally uprooting the experience and alienating the dedicated fans? Ideally, the live service game offers constant ways to keep things fresh. This is Fortnite‘s domain, and fortunately it doesn’t have to worry about getting old for a while. Fortnite Rocket Racing, LEGO Fortnite (which borrows largely from his Save the world basic principles), And Fortnite Festival are all new ways to enjoy what Epic Games has to offer. Disney has shown interest and created an experience within the game that players haven’t seen yet. It feels like this is all happening because Fortnite is no longer just a game, it’s a platform.

Fortnite is constantly offering new ways to play while refining what its players love. It seems like the best thing to do is keep it fresh. Games like Apex Legends seem understated, especially considering there aren’t many ways to play it. The basics 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 contemporaries have not yet fully understood.

How many years has Fortnite actually been around?

You can’t get bored of the game so quickly when there are meaningfully different games to play. That’s why there is always so much to do in Roblox and Minecraftwhich lasted 18 and 13 years respectively. Seven years old Fortnite plans to become a mainstay in the same way as those giants, if gamers don’t already consider it as such. If you were tired of Fortnitemaybe it’s time to accept that it’s not over yet, because it looks like Epic Games is just getting started.