DEEP DIVE

Fortnite Battle Royale, also referred to as just “Fortnite,” is a popular online multiplayer video game published by Epic Games. The free online game is played live with 100 players dropped onto a virtual island who compete to be the one winner or one winning team. Teams of two or four can include players who know each other IRL or can be made of random groupings. Teammates can communicate during the game via microphone.

During gameplay, an electromagnetic storm narrows the boundary of the map, forcing competitors closer together. Players construct forts, structures used for shooting leverage and defense in the game.

With over 40 million players, Fortnite is popular for its accessibility and interactivity with fandoms based on Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, Reddit and other social media platforms.

Although Fortnite Battle Royale is free, players have options to purchase cosmetic changes to their virtual game characters and expanded versions of the game are also available for purchase.

Fortnite is a shooting-based game that features no blood or gore.