Fortnite is Generating More Revenue Than Any Other Free Game Ever (recode.net)

Fortnite: Battle Royale has brought in more revenue in a single month than any other game of its kind, industry estimates suggest. Recode: The free-to-play game hit a new revenue record of $318 million in May, according to SuperData Research. That puts Fornite well ahead of other breakout games like Pokemon Go and Clash of Clans, and it's all the more spectacular when you realize the multi-platform game launched on consoles just eight months ago and on iOS just three months ago. Since then, Fortnite has brought in more than $1.2 billion in revenue, all of which comes from nonessential in-app purchases, for stuff like clothing and dance moves.

Comments

Re:"free"

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm fine using the default skin for my beer, and my FortNite characters. That's all you pay for in the game: cosmetics.

Re: "free"

[Anonymous Coward]

Well fortnite is as legit free to play as it gets. I don't like the game but can't knock their business model.

Plenty of children using parents money..

[Anonymous Coward]

..for $20 cosmetic items. Yeah, as in two-zero.... ten plus ten.

People that work at gamestop cant believe how many kids are dragging their parents in just to purchase these gift cards that let you buy skins.

Not to mention the fact that the game is on nearly every platform now. It's a digital clothing store in the form of a video game.

It's also pretty fun. I grew tired of it fairly quickly, but I'd never say it's a bad game. When you consider epic is pouring all their resources into it, it better be doing okay

Re:Plenty of children using parents money..

[aix tom]

It kind of makes sense. Real live is also "pretty fun" no matter what clothes you war, and the real life fashion industry makes a lot of money, too.

Re:Plenty of children using parents money..

[avandesande]

I have no problem with money for DLC as long as it's not pay to win or cut grinds etc.... it keeps the developers focus on keeping the game fun and interesting. With pay to win it creates all kinds of perverse side effects on game play.

Re:Plenty of children using parents money..

[Mandrel]

Products (and ads for products) targeted at children have always been the most lucrative, because they and their developing brains are more able to be manipulated, are more susceptible to addiction and peer pressure, are less jaded and so more open and promiscuous, and have a large amount of leisure time. And their parents (and grandparents) like to dote and defuse pestering. Games, movies, books, toys, clothes.

Cosmetic vs. pay to win

[burtosis]

I really like freemium games that push cosmetics only such as skins, dance moves, and other non-essentials. It opens up the game to the most people, levels the playing field between players who pay and those who don't, and still allows a fun incentive to invest in the development of the game. I can't stand and refuse to become invested in games that use loot boxes using actual currency as the method to obtain end game content, must have equipment, or are the only way to get it in a reasonable amount of time.

Re:Why have we let ourselves come to this?

[mikael]

Some people may not have the ground space, energy, or money to afford a real landscaped garden, mansion home, or even toy railway set, but they are happy with a virtual version that they can upgrade in their spare time.