In Fortnite, Epic knows its target audience. The new, dark Raven skin is completely different from what you usually find in the Fortnite shop, and it probably hits right in the wallet of younger players. A lot of people are apparently purchasing it.
Fortnite is the game of the hour –even if it annoys some people. But even if one views the hype around the shooter critically, it is interesting to observe the mechanisms at play in Fortnite.
Fortnite currently earns 1.5 million US dollars a day, just from iOS
Although Fortnite is Free2Play, the developers rake in millions every day through the cash shop. The iOS version alone is said to have generated about 15 million US dollars in three weeks. This works through new skins – because in Fortnite: Battle Royale, all microtransactions are purely cosmetic.
Currently, the title is reportedly earning about 1.5 million US dollars a day on iOS, Sensor Tower reports. The revenue has exploded,since everyone can play with a suitable iOS device.
This kind of system needs to be fed with constantly new skins: And a good skin idea quickly generates millions in Fortnite. That’s exactly the kind of idea we want to take a closer look at today.
Dark Raven skin appeals to the target audience
Epic is now precisely addressing its target audience with a new “Raven” skin that players have been waiting for a long time, right where they are.
Many players have apparently been waiting for a slightly “darker variant” of an avatar to be in Fortnite. And that is exactly the variant Epic is now offering players.
Until now, there were rather comic-like heroes in Fortnite, as if from a Playmobil crawl box: sometimes an astronaut, sometimes a knight, and a lot of plush.
Anyone wanting to look cool had to put in a lot of effortto play a battle pass to the end and then be out and about as “Grim Reaper”. The skin, which is based on the action hero John Wick, was only available after quite a hefty grind.
The new Raven skin is now even darker or “edgy” and can simply be purchased. The Raven skin has a black hood, emits a nebulous purple shimmer, and is clearly an “Agent of Death”.
So far, those who considered themselves too cool tobe in this brightly colored comic world are offered the perfect entry here by Epic.
This aesthetic with a “dark morbid look” is nothing unusual in games – in Overwatch, for example, Reaper takes on this function. People often assume that those who prefer such skins or heroes are “edgelords”, meaning someone who wants to appear dark, cool, and mysterious.
“The first skin I’m buying.”
As the US site Polygon reports, the “Raven skin” has already caused difficulties. Shortly after it went live, Epic tweeted: “People are having issues when buying V-Bucks.”
On reddit, the first joked: “Epic can’t handle the money that players are currently throwing at them.”
And other comments seem to agree with the joker. Numerous players announce: This is now the first skin they will buy in a video game.
Even the star streamer of Fortnite, Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, features the skin in a new video.
Many, rather younger players will probably make their first purchases here. And the skin hits hard at nearly €20. €28 if you want the glider as well.However, you can also earn V-Bucks in Fortnite.
John Wick skins have a certain reputation
Interestingly, the predecessor of the “Raven skins”, the “John Wick” skin, already carries a certain reputation.
One of the most popular posts on reddit suggests that players with the John Wick skin immediately build a huge fortress when they hear a shot.
Perhaps players with a Raven skin will soon have their own special reputation.
More on the topic:
List of all skins and outfits for Fortnite: Battle Royale – How to get them
