'Fortnite' is a winner because Epic Games follows as easily as it leads
Sometimes, the very best you can do is exactly what someone else did.
The journey that Epic Games has been on with Fortnite since the game's "battle royale" mode launched in Sept. 2017 has been highlighted by smart moves. From the Battle Pass to seasonal shifts and wild, limited-time events that subvert the competitive purpose of the game, Fortnite has been blazing a trail.
Now, for its next trick, Epic is preparing an update that skips new and fresh in favor of been there, done that: the Reboot Van. It's a feature borrowed from Apex Legends, the competing battle royale that launched earlier in 2019.
As Epic's reveal video confirms, the respawn feature works the same way in both games: if your teammate goes down, you can bring them back into the game by collecting a card from their body and using it to activate a nearby Respawn Beacon (in Apex) or Reboot Van (in Fortnite).
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It's not as flashy as an in-game Marshmello concert, but it speaks to the attitude that has defined Fortnite since its battle royale mode burst on to the scene. Namely, that good ideas can inspire, even when someone else thought of them first.
Just look at the Battle Pass. Fortnite's seasonal moneymaking mechanism is an evolution of the subscription fees that exemplified earlier online-only games. You buy the pass, and then the more you play in the space of a season, the more stuff you unlock for that season.
It's not something Epic came up with, though. The idea grew up in other games and genres, and it was adapted for Fortnite in a way that made perfect sense. Timing was a factor, with the Battle Pass coming along right as loot box exhaustion started to set in. But the not-quite-a-subscription approach worked perfectly with the way people were playing.
No one's going to argue that Fortnite is a copycat game (except for that one time). But the coming of the Reboot Van is further proof of why it's become such a dominant force. It isn't just the good ideas and the sticky play, the armies of influencers and the mainstream media coverage.
It's the willingness to listen. In an industry where competitors traditionally fall over themselves to avoid giving credit to some other team, Epic has developed a knack for recognizing the ideas that can make Fortnite better -- regardless of where they come from -- and running with them.
Adam Rosenberg is a Senior Games Reporter for Mashable, where he plays all the games. Every single one. From AAA blockbusters to indie darlings to mobile favorites and browser-based oddities, he consumes as much as he can, whenever he can.Adam brings more than a decade of experience working in the space to the Mashable Games team. He previously headed up all games coverage at Digital Trends, and prior to that was a long-time, full-time freelancer, writing for a diverse lineup of outlets that includes Rolling Stone, MTV, G4, Joystiq, IGN, Official Xbox Magazine, EGM, 1UP, UGO and others.Born and raised in the beautiful suburbs of New York, Adam has spent his life in and around the city. He's a New York University graduate with a double major in Journalism and Cinema Studios. He's also a certified audio engineer. Currently, Adam resides in Crown Heights with his dog and his partner's two cats. He's a lover of fine food, adorable animals, video games, all things geeky and shiny gadgets.
