What is Fortnite? A quick guide to the game
Updated
Fortnite is a free online multiplayer game from Epic Games, best known for its 100-player Battle Royale.
Artwork from Fortnite’s official mobile page. Use that page to find the current iOS and Android installation routes for your region.
Credit: Epic Games. View image source
What kind of game is Fortnite?
Fortnite is a free online game with several modes. Its best-known mode is Battle Royale: up to 100 players drop onto an island and fight to be the last one standing as a storm closes in. You can play solo, as a 2 player duo or in a squad, so yes, it is multiplayer, and you can team up with friends.
How do you play Fortnite? Gameplay basics
Jump out of the Battle Bus, land somewhere, then collect weapons and materials from chests and the floor. Stay inside the safe zone as the storm shrinks, and be the last one left. Fortnite needs an internet connection, so there is no offline mode. To get started, see how to play on PC, mobile or console, and pick a landing spot with our landing guide.
When was Fortnite made? A short history of Fortnite
The first version, Save the World, launched in early access on July 25, 2017. Battle Royale followed later in 2017, and Creative arrived in December 2018. The game is made by Epic Games, the company behind Unreal Engine.
Fortnite game modes
It has grown into a set of games in one app:
- Battle Royale, including Zero Build (no building) and Ranked.
- Reload, with 40 players and respawns.
- OG, with the Chapter 1 map and weapons.
- Blitz Royale, with 32 players and matches of about five minutes.
- LEGO Fortnite, for survival and social play.
- Fortnite Festival, a music mode.
- Save the World, a co-op mode for up to 4 players.
- Creative islands made by players, found with island codes.
How long does a Fortnite game last?
A full Battle Royale match commonly takes around 20 minutes, and less if you are eliminated early. Blitz Royale takes about five. So you can fit in one match on a short break.
Why is it called Fortnite?
We have not found a clear statement from Epic. It is widely read as a play on the word fortnight, joined with forts and building, which fits Save the World's fort defense. How do you spell it? Fortnite, as one word. Fortnight vs Fortnite is a common mix-up, as fortnight is the ordinary English word for two weeks.
Is Fortnite OK for kids?
The core game has carried a Teen rating from the ESRB, and individual modes and islands can differ, so check the rating shown for each one. Parents should look at the parental controls in the Epic account. New players should also turn on 2FA.