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On the weekend of the upcoming Fortnite World Cup, July 25 will mark two years to the day since Fortnite: Save The World officially launched. Back in that first month of launch, no one would have predicted what was to follow.
Reading early reviews, hints were there. While the game failed to impress critics because the core Save The World mode featured an unimpressive and unavoidable progression system, the mechanics of Fortnite – the build and loot systems, destructibility, and core shooter mechanics – received praise.
What Fortnite didn’t lack was developer commitment. Over the weeks that followed the team at Epic Games 
offered players regular updates and new game modes.
There’s an opinion online that Epic Games added Battle Royale to Fortnite because the original game was dying. But looking back, Fortnite: Battle Royale launched as a beta feature for Save The World owners just six weeks after the original Early Access launch date. The full free-to-play launch was just two weeks later on Sept. 26, 2017.
So much can seem inevitable in hindsight. A free-to-play, kid-friendly, colorful BR game available on all platforms? It seems to make plenty of sense now, but Epic Games was the one to make it seem so obvious.
Two weeks after Fortnite: Battle Royale opened to all, Epic Games announced the game had passed 10M players. By Nov. 6 the count was 20M players. The snowball grew quickly, and just a few months later the biggest stars in the world were hanging out with the most popular Fortnite player out there. A cultural phenomenon was born.
The biggest Battle Royale until that time, PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS (PUBG), was slow to deliver significant updates and improvements through the preceding year, which left the door open for a competitor to draw the attention of fans of the emerging genre. It’s a hallmark of Fortnite that rapid iteration and evolution were part of what helped it keep players hooked.
We just passed 20 million players across all of Fortnite since launch! Thanks from the bottom of our 💗💜💚 pic.twitter.com/LuVV5vb7wj
— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) November 6, 2017
But storms have swirled outside the game too, with controversy and lawsuits making Epic earn every step, season-by-season, skirmish-by-skirmish.
Season One and Two: Structural Foundations
The first season launched Oct. 25, 2017, and it was just about the basics. It introduced the progression concept…
Popular Fortnite Merch
- DART BLASTING FORTNITE BLASTER REPLICA: This AR L blaster is inspired by the blaster used in Fortnite, capturing the look and colors of the one in the popular video game
- MOTORIZED 10 DART BLASTING: Blast 10 darts from this motorized blaster that has an acceleration button to power up the motor (batteries required, not included)
- 20 DARTS AND 10 DART CLIP: Includes a 10 dart clip and 20 Official Nerf Elite darts.To ensure proper use of AR L blaster ensure access door is fully closed before use. Make sure clip is inserted fully...
- Jenga game with a Fortnite twist: It's an exciting Jenga game with artwork, themes, and characters inspired by the popular Fortnite online video game
- Spin, stack, climb: Players spin the spinner and follow the commands: the number and type of Blocks to stack, and how many layers their Fortnite character must climb
- Don't fall short: Players move their own pegs up and their opponents' Pegs down as they remove and stack blocks. But if the tower falls As they climb or stack -- it's game over for them
- Practice your aim with this targeting set: this set includes an spmrnum-r blaster, 6 darts and 3 llama targets so you can practice your aim or play competitive games with family and friends
- Includes 3 llama targets: comes with 3 llama targets in different sizes to set up exciting games that challenge skills and test aim and accuracy
- Dart-blasting Fortnite blaster replica: this spmrnum-r blaster is inspired by the blaster used in Fortnite, capturing the look and colors of the one in the popular video game
- Dart-blasting replica of the Fortnite blaster: this its blaster is inspired by the blaster used in the popular Fortnite video game
- Pump-action 4-dart blasting: blast 4 darts in a row from this 4-dart, pump-action blaster that's hand-powered by you (no batteries required)
- 8 darts and storage stock: includes 8 official Nerf Mega darts and has storage on the stock for 4 darts, so you can keep backup darts nearby for fast reloading
- Super-Soft, Huggable Plush for All Ages
- High-Quality Materials
- Collectible Rare Loot Llama
- Unique Rocket Battle Royale gameplay.
- Everything is destructible! Real Sandbox mode.
- Craft Defenses, Forts, Towers, Sky Bridges, everything possible!
- Epic Games
- Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
- Paperback: 112 pages
- Measures 14 inches tall and includes 23 pieces-9 weapons, 4 Back Bling, 8 exclusive building materials and a llama float that fits many 4" Fortnite action figures! Plus, it's pre-filled with a 4-inch...
- Giddy-Up features 25+ points of articulation and highly detailed decoration inspired by one of the most popular outfits from Epic Games' Fortnite.
- Bursting with colorful confetti, reveal your loot by tearing open your Llama to see a War Paint figure and a bunch of cool accessories.
- Ragnarok, Rex, Cuddle Team Leader and Brite Bomber 4" action figures - inspired by four of the most popular outfits from Epic Games' Fortnite.
- 19 points of articulation
- Highly detailed decoration
