If video games are a part of your current lifestyle in any way, you have most likely heard of Fortnite. If not, think something similar to the Hunger Games. Players get dropped into a world and must be the last to survive out of 100 players. While PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds) implemented this concept first, Fortnite has seemingly come out as the superior of the two. Below are the reasons why Epic Games won and made gaming great again for my friends and I.
But first, check out my sick snipe, Brotato Chip:
The highlight of my young career.
Posted by Nicholas Austin on Saturday, February 24, 2018
1. The game is free
The concept of a popular console game being free to download still blows my mind. To counter PUBG being the first known brand in this genre though, Epic went with this strategy for Fortnite.
What made this play even more significant was the timing. When Fortnite started to really hit the scene, PUBG wasn’t yet developed in full. Instead of charging because they could at the time, Epic still gave the game away. It would come to pay huge dividends both for increasing reach and also as a financial strategy.
As Fortnite’s fan base has become more fanatical, new micro-transaction add-ons have been periodically introduced–and players have been more than willing to pay. One friend of mine told me his friend has spent over $300 on the game, which is still less than a year old. Compare that to the typical $60 Xbox game and I’d say the free strategy has more than paid off!
2. Consistent updates, based on player feedback
A common complaint with PUBG in the beginning was how many issues there were with the gameplay. Call of Duty World War II has had similar problems, amplified by a lack of timely patches from developers.
So far, there have been no such frustrations with Fortnite. Epic has been swift in its responsiveness to concerns surrounding all things from player-suggested improvements to actual gameplay hiccups. With this game type being a new phenomenon, it’s no wonder this degree of customer service has resulted in loyalty. In a lot of ways, it allows the gamers themselves to feel like they’re customizing their own product. This only provides more incentive to invest both their time in money in a community that’s become their own.
Hold up though, Broprah Winfrey. Before I continue, you GOTTA see this one. He is “TOO savage!”:
3. It doesn’t take itself too seriously
I’m gonna be straight with you, this point is a matter of my taste. It’s interesting too because I feel the opposite in this regard when it comes to movies/TV shows/books. But for some reason I tend to prefer light-hearted, less dramatic video games.
The ability to make your character throw bananas, do funny dances, or have confetti and little kids cheering upon getting a head shot, makes the game more fun (thanks Mario, Fortnite, and Halo, respectively). While I’ve always played and enjoyed serious games like Call of Duty, creative, silly in-game action allows for much more community building.
Players sharing video content like the following is a great example of this in action.
Okay, this one wasn’t me either, Brotel 6. But nonetheless, WTF:
A lesson in customer-centric business
This isn’t a new principle I’m aiming to present to you. I just find it so cool to be actively involved in consuming a fantastic business/marketing model as it continues to develop. It’s a case study I’ve certainly learned a lot from and hope you might as well. Overall, the following two things are my key takeaways:
- The value of being customer-centric in both pricing strategy and services provided cannot be overstated.
- If you’re in the mood to play video games and have the time to do so, feel free to play video games. You never know what you might learn!
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QOTD: which do you play more of? Let me know in this poll and tell me why in the comments:
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