Fortnite comeback takes gaming world by storm

Art by Audrey Strauss

Five years after Fortnite came out, it seemed that the game was losing both player interest and its status as a video game staple. The original map of Fortnite was first introduced in 2018 when the Battle Royale mode was introduced, and new maps, skins and weapons have been added since in attempt to hook players back in. Before the original creator of the game and creative director for Epic Games, Donald Mustard, decided to step down from his role, his final effort was to bring back the original map for just one month. In the month players were able to relive the very first season, countless students restarted their PCs and got back to playing Fortnite.

Fortnite is a 100-player battle royale, where each player chooses a landing spot on the map and must defeat the lobby of players, eliminating anybody in their way to earn the “Victory Royale.’’ The game also features a season pass system, called the “Battle Pass,” which is earned through buying the in-game currency and unlocks certain skins, emotes, pickaxes, gliders and more.

Though the intense marketing campaign and celebrity involvement may have brought in some fans, the most important draw for past players was the nostalgia this season brought. Fortnite’s latest season, “Chapter 4: Season OG’’ reintroduced many fan favorites, including Tilted Towers and Risky Reels. From reuniting with old gaming groups to remembering how life was the very first time someone played the game, this season was beyond special. Historically, this season of Fortnite has been the most successful, and Mohamad Jahromi (’27) knows why.

“The fact that they brought back everything from the original map was a factor in which made the season so special,” Jahromi said. “I connected with friends I haven’t played with in so long and that just made this season so much more special than the others.”

This most recent Fortnite season was it’s most successful one yet, with over 44 million players logged into servers and countless others waiting in queues, according to a study by BBC news. With hour-long queues and millions posting about Fortnite online, millions were reliving the original Fortnite experience. Friend groups who haven’t spoken in ages reunited to enjoy the new season, and this final triumph was an incredible experience for all who were able to hop back on to play this month.