“When did Fortnite come out?” A question with 2 answers

Being so long on the market now, when did Fortnite actually make its debut?
“When did Fortnite come out?” A question with 2 answers
Written By Eray Eliaçık

Reviewed by: Naim Rosinski

(Content Manager & Editor)

Last UpdatedFebruary 23, 2024 at 01:04PM
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When did Fortnite come out? It is a seemingly simple question, yet it marks the genesis of a gaming revolution that shook the world.

What began as a co-op survival experiment swiftly transformed into a cultural phenomenon that reshaped the very fabric of interactive entertainment.

When did Fortnite come out first?

Fortnite's initial stride onto the gaming stage occurred on July 21, 2017, with "Fortnite: Save the World." It laid the groundwork a co-op survival fest where players battled husks in a post-apocalyptic setting. Promising, no doubt, but it was the arrival of Battle Royale that set the world ablaze.

Rise of the Battle Royale Empire

September 26, 2017—mark it on your gaming calendar. "Fortnite Battle Royale" announced, and Fortnite came out for real. 

It was free-to-play, offering survival, building, and intense competition. And just like that, Fortnite wasn’t a game anymore; it was a cultural wave.

Overnight, Fortnite conquered hearts and screens globally. Its animated graphics and unique blend of building and battling became the buzz. Everyone—casual players, hardcore competitors—flocked to the island, fighting for that coveted Victory Royale.

Image credit: Epic Games
Image credit: Epic Games

Fortnite initially launched its Battle Royale mode on different platforms at varying times:

  • PlayStation 4 (PS4): September 26, 2017
  • Xbox One: September 26, 2017
  • PC (Windows/Mac): September 26, 2017
  • iOS: April 2, 2018
  • Nintendo Switch: June 12, 2018
  • Android: August 9, 2018

Crossovers with pop culture icons, in-game concerts, and mind-blowing live experiences elevated Fortnite beyond a game; it was a digital universe where friendships formed and legends were made.

With constant updates, each season brought innovation, keeping the gameplay fresh. It wasn’t confined to consoles and PCs; it transcended, invading mobile devices, granting round-the-clock access to the battlefield.

The Fortnite legacy

Fortnite's journey continues. New adventures, collaborations, and a thriving community mark its legacy. It’s a game that not only entertained but revolutionized live events within gaming, setting an example for the industry.

As players eagerly anticipate the next chapter, Fortnite remains an iconic force, forever altering how we experience and perceive video games. However, do you know is it the oldest one or not?

Battle royale games have been here for a while

Fortnite is not the oldest battle royale game in the library. Here's a list of some of the earliest Battle Royale games:

  • ARMA 2: DayZ Mod - April 25, 2012: Considered a precursor to the Battle Royale genre, the DayZ Mod for ARMA 2 was primarily a survival game set in a zombie apocalypse. It introduced elements of open-world survival that later influenced the Battle Royale genre.
     
Image credit: Bohemia Interactive
Image credit: Bohemia Interactive
  • Minecraft: Hunger Games - March 2012 (Custom maps): While not an official game mode, Hunger Games in Minecraft involved players competing in a last-player-standing scenario, gathering resources, and battling within custom maps. It laid the foundation for the survival competition aspect later seen in Battle Royale games.
  • The Culling - March 4, 2016: This game was among the early standalone Battle Royale titles, focusing on close-quarters combat and crafting mechanics. It emphasized melee combat and environmental traps as players fought for survival on a remote island.
  • H1Z1: King of the Kill - February 28, 2018: Originally part of the H1Z1 survival game, King of the Kill split into a separate Battle Royale game mode, pitting players against each other in a large map where the last player or team standing claimed victory.
  • PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) - December 20, 2017: PUBG popularized the Battle Royale genre, introducing a large-scale competitive environment where players parachuted onto an island, scavenged for weapons and supplies, and fought to be the last person or team alive.
  • Fortnite Battle Royale - September 26, 2017: Initially a cooperative building game, Fortnite introduced its Battle Royale mode, rapidly gaining immense popularity with its vibrant aesthetics, building mechanics, and fast-paced gameplay.
  • Darwin Project - March 9, 2018: This game added a unique twist by introducing a show director role, allowing one player to oversee the match, influencing the environment, and interacting with participants while they battled in an icy, futuristic setting.
  • SOS - January 23, 2018: Set on a deserted island, SOS was a survival game show where players navigated hazards, interacted with other contestants, and aimed to retrieve relics while being recorded for an in-game audience.
  • Realm Royale - June 5, 2018: A fantasy-themed Battle Royale spin-off of Paladins, featuring classes, abilities, and a crafting system where defeated players turned into chickens, providing a chance to respawn.
  • Ring of Elysium - September 19, 2018 (Early Access): Taking place in a snowy mountainous region, Ring of Elysium offered dynamic weather conditions and introduced a unique evacuation system, challenging players to escape a deadly snowstorm.

Each of these games brought something unique to the genre, contributing to the evolution and diversification of the Battle Royale experience.

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Meet Eray, a tech enthusiast passionate about AI, crypto, gaming, and more. Eray is always looking into new developments, exploring unique topics, and keeping up with the latest trends in the tech industry, and gaming is the sweetest spot.

Eray has been rocking it as a news manager and content creator at spots like, TechBriefly, Gamelevate, Softonic, and various tech realms. Crafting over 2k tech articles, Eray captivated millions of readers for over three years.

Now, over at THESPIKE, Eray is a content writer, blending the love for spinning stories and helpful guides for all-things gaming.

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