In the coming weeks, it will be decided whether Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 will really be the hit many already think it is. Our author Schuhmann asks: Has Activision even understood why Fortnite is such a success?
Much praise for Blackout: In less than 2 weeks, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 will be released. The mode everyone is waiting for is the battle royale mode Blackout.
This is a kind of “XXL Call of Duty.” They took multiple maps from previous CoD titles and stitched them together into a gigantic map.
There, 100 players are supposed to fight for survival in a battle royale mode.
The first reactions to Blackout are very positive. Streamer DrDisrespect almost suppressed tears when he played Blackout for the first time. The weapon handling, the graphics, the atmospheres felt strong.
The overall mood among fans is incredibly positive for Blackout.
Analysts expect a strong competitor for PUBG and Fortnite: Analysts took this surge from Twitch and turned it into “recommendations” for investors.
Activision stocks should be bought again. They talk about a strong competitor for PUBG and also for Fortnite.
After analysts previously advised caution and had respect for how Fortnite changed the gaming market, it now said: “Feel free to buy the stocks.”
The secret of Fortnite is the vibrant rhythm
What makes Fortnite’s success actually? Already now it can be said: Black Ops 4 will surely be able to keep up with Fortnite in gameplay, and perhaps even surpass it.
But the actual strength of Fortnite comes from elsewhere.
When Epic first presented their new game Fortnite back in 2017, the creative head Donald Mustard revealed the secret of the game to the US site Polygon: They oriented themselves to Destiny.
A robust event system was supposed to make Fortnite a living game that is constantly evolving and changing. Mustard referred to it as a “living product.”
There is a rhythm that is much livelier than in typical games. And the systems of Fortnite are more robust than those of Destiny back then.
Mustard’s statements in 2017 still referred to the “original Fortnite”, but exactly these systems are behind Fortnite’s battle royale success. They ensure that Fortnite has dominated so far in 2018.
Not only the game is alive, but also the studio behind it: Epic is always in motion, communicates with fans, addresses their issues, and provides solutions.
This is the rhythm of Fortnite:
- Every day new items are in the shop, there are daily challenges to complete
- Every week around Tuesday, an update comes that brings changes – Additionally, new modes will be in the game that create some variety
- Every week around Thursday there are also new challenges that encourage players to view Fortnite differently and engage in other activities on the map
- Every two weeks, a content patch appears that makes substantial changes to the balance and brings new content
- Every 10 weeks a new season starts with a battle pass, that encourages playing, and changes to the map
- Throughout the year, there are even cross-storylines that all lead to a “big” event
Can Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 do that? Activision has surely analyzed and understood that this rhythm is behind Fortnite’s success. The interesting part will be whether Activision can give their game this “rhythm” that Epic found in Fortnite.
Currently, everything in Black Ops 4 focuses on the gameplay, on the game from “minute to minute”, but Fortnite’s success also relies on how the game changes from “day to day” and “month to month”.
One should be curious about what exactly Activision will come up with to keep their Blackout fresh for months. Whether Activision presents a coherent concept here will likely determine how successful Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 really becomes.
