The online shooter Fortnite triggered a gaming hype in 2018 like no game had before it. In 2021, some believe the game is coming to an end. The hashtag #RipFortnite is trending on Twitter. Twitch streamers like Tfue, Ninja, or Nickmercs have left the game. We explain what’s going on at MeinMMO.
What kind of trend is this? Before the weekend, on March 26, the hashtag “Rip Fortnite” was trending on Twitter. Several thousand tweets appeared under this hashtag, some were also seen on the German Twitch.
Under this motto, players expressed their criticism of the just-launched Season 6 in Fortnite and a controversial decision by Epic Games.
This is not the first time that “#RipFortnite” made it to the trends. In April 2020, the hashtag trended: Back then, players believed the new shooter “Valorant” was signaling the end for Fortnite.
We see the trend again in March 2021.
Nostalgia, anger, and disappointment of the “serious” players
This criticism originates from: The criticism of Fortnite this time comes primarily from “competitive players” who play Fortnite with ambition in ranked mode.
They are annoyed by an announcement from Epic Games: The operator of Fortnite now wants players to refrain from money bets, the wagers. They told Twitch streamer Clix to stop the bets, or he will be banned from Fortnite.
These “wagers” are currently appreciated by young pros and their viewers to add “spice” to the game. The fans of these bets now feel Epic wants to take away their fun.
In addition, some changes in Season 6 are criticized: Above all, the new “prehistoric shotgun” is considered too strong.
The competitive players feel that Epic Games neglects them and does not listen to their objections against the direction the game is taking.
Amid much criticism, nostalgia resonates. One longs for the “good old days”. Back then, the skill level of the players was lower, and one could win a match in Fortnite by relying solely on one’s shooter skills without needing to master the game’s complex building mode to the fullest.
“All streamers with personality leave Fortnite – dead game,” complains Tfue
Is Fortnite really dying? The pure numbers we know simply do not support the thesis that Fortnite is dying:
- At the peak of Fortnite in 2018, the game had an average of 155,000 viewers on Twitch
- In February 2021, Fortnite had 160,500 viewers – so the viewer numbers have actually increased
However, the names of the streamers have changed. One of the biggest streamers on Twitch, Tfue, explains that many streamers who grew up with Fortnite have moved on to other games (via dexerto):
- Ninja now plays LoL
- Nickmercs shows Call of Duty Warzone
- Tfue himself is playing Minecraft
Tfue says all streamers with personality have switched from Fortnite to games that they enjoy. The streamers just don’t need Fortnite anymore. So why should they play such a bad game?
Fortnite is left “dying” with a lot of streamers without personality.
Season 6 is the best for some, the worst season of all time for others
One of these remaining streamers is SypherPK. He asked his community how they currently find Fortnite.
With 750,000 votes, they said:
- 46% said the game is good
- 19% found Fortnite okay
- 12% said it is not in its best shape
- 15% consider Season 6 the worst season
- 9% believe it is the best season ever
SypherPK believes that competitive players are currently in a bad mood in Fortnite. But it is too early in Season 6 to consider the game “dead” now.
“I don’t play it anymore” means “the game is dead”
This is what it’s about: Fortnite is certainly no longer the monster game it was in 2018 when it dominated discussions in gaming and overflowed into the mainstream. But it is still one of the biggest games in the world.
Recently, many “big games” have been postponed or ran rather disappointingly. During the pandemic, the demand for games has increased. In recent years, nothing has emerged that could permanently endanger Fortnite: Although trend games like Fall Guys or Among Us often emerge, little lasts. Gamers even turn to “old games” like GTA 5 to pass the time.
Fortnite is a bit like WoW in the MMORPG genre: At first, Fortnite clearly dominated the scene. Meanwhile, there are additional games like Apex Legends or Call of Duty that share the spotlight.
Since the start of “Chapter 2”, perhaps the game has missed a few highlights to remain anchored in the mainstream. The “Black Hole” event is also already over a year ago.
The ideas and tricks of Epic Games have worn a bit over time: It is also impossible for Epic Games to reinvent the game every 3 months.
Moreover, Fortnite surely lacks the big live event since Corona crippled e-sports. In 2019, the Fortnite World Cup was a huge event with extremely high prize money that determined everything in Fortnite for months. Competitive PvP has since played a smaller role. Some players have switched to Valorant, others complained: E-sports in Fortnite is dying.
It is clear: There is a generational change in Fortnite. Many players from the first hour are tired of the game and are looking for alternatives. However, many other, younger players seem to be stepping in their place.
The idea that “Fortnite is dead” likely stems from the perspective that “If I don’t play it anymore, then the game is dead.”
That it’s not that simple is seen in a development on Twitter: Following “#RipFortnite”, there was also a counter-movement “#ThankYouEpicGames”. Here, players thanked for how well Fortnite has been developed over the nearly 4 years.
But those who really have a reason to complain are the original players of Fortnite:
The original players of Fortnite are really pissed right now – and rightly so
