Fortnite
Fortnite is a free-to-play hybrid video game developed and published by Epic Games, encompassing cooperative survival gameplay in Fortnite: Save the World—where players defend against zombie-like husks—and the competitive Fortnite Battle Royale mode, a third-person shooter pitting up to 100 players against each other on a shrinking map until one remains victorious.[1][2] Signature features include real-time building mechanics using gathered resources to construct fortifications and weapons, seasonal battle passes offering progression-based cosmetic rewards, and cross-platform multiplayer support across consoles, PCs, and mobile devices.[1] Originally launched in paid early access for Save the World on July 25, 2017, the free Battle Royale mode debuted on September 26, 2017, propelling the title to unprecedented popularity through its accessible free-to-play model and frequent live events.[3][2] The game's explosive growth has resulted in over 650 million registered users worldwide as of late 2023, with peak monthly active users exceeding 80 million in prior years, driven by microtransactions yielding billions in annual revenue—such as $3.7 billion in one reported year—primarily from in-game purchases of skins, emotes, and battle passes.[4][5][6] Epic Games has leveraged Fortnite's platform for high-profile virtual concerts, celebrity crossovers, and collaborations with franchises like Marvel and Star Wars, cementing its status as a cultural phenomenon that blurred lines between gaming, entertainment, and social media.[1] These innovations, alongside zero-building modes and creative tools for user-generated content, have sustained engagement amid evolving metas and hardware advancements. Fortnite has encountered significant controversies, including ongoing class-action lawsuits alleging addictive design elements—such as loot boxes and reward loops—targeting minors and contributing to excessive playtime and spending, with claims of psychological manipulation via dopamine-driven mechanics.[7][8] In 2022, Epic settled with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for $520 million over violations of children's privacy laws under COPPA and deceptive user interface practices that tricked players into unintended purchases, marking the largest civil penalty for such infractions.[9][10] Additionally, Epic's 2020 antitrust lawsuit against Apple challenged app store monopoly practices after implementing direct payments to bypass fees, highlighting tensions in digital distribution ecosystems, though the case yielded mixed judicial outcomes favoring platform control.[10]