It’s turned kids into couch potatoes.
It’s caused professional athletes to crash and burn at their jobs.
It’s even infiltrated daily conversations with its own vocabulary.
Fortnite arrived on the scene last July as a free-to-play shooter by Epic Games. But it started off as less than a success when first released.
Then, in September 2017, Epic added a free-to-play “battle royale” mode, in which 100 players on a large island fight for survival.
That’s when things went crazy.
It captured the Minecraft generation with its free play, bright graphics and ridiculous costumes. It even overtook Minecraft in March as the most-watched video game in YouTube history.
“In terms of fervor, compulsive behavior and parental noncomprehension, the Fortnite craze has elements of Beatlemania, the opioid crisis and the ingestion of Tide Pods,” according to the New Yorker.
Now instead of pushing back against the addictive nature of the game, some parents are doubling down on Fortnite by hiring tutors for their kids.
Parents are paying up to $20 per hour to hire Fortnite coaches to teach their kids how to beat the game, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Besides weekly lessons, Fortnite has also taken over tons of different areas of life, including college football and dancing. Residents in metro Detroit have even made headlines in Fortnite news.
Getting in the game
The addictive nature of the game has forced athletes to choose between the video game and their future sports careers. Olamide Zaccheaus, a senior wide receiver at University of Virginia, had to delete the game from his Xbox in his effort to quit cold turkey.
Other teams are embracing the Fortnite culture and using it to connect with potential football recruits.
For the University of Michigan football program, recruiting graphics have been a staple for many years, according to The Michigan Insider. Quarterback commit Cade McNamara, as well as other uncommitted recruits, have posted graphics from the Wolverines depicting themselves winning Fortnite battles.
While players are allowing the video game to consume their time, coaches don’t seem to be reading from the same playbook.
“I call a high school kid and ask, ‘You play that Fort Hill?’ I don’t even know the name of it,” said University of Pittsburgh football coach Pat Narduzzi, a former assistant coach at Michigan State. “It bothers me that people are that into it. But that’s the generation we’re in. They’d rather do that than…
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