Fortnite: Battle Royale is partnering with TikTok for a competition to find the game’s next emote. Both the game and the video-sharing app have become tremendously successful in the past few years, and the collaboration between the two is sure to garner attention from gamers worldwide.
The amount of attention the competition has received in such a short time mirrors Fortnite’s own success story. When Fortnite: Save the World was first released by Epic Games in 2017, it was a co-op shooter where players could work in groups of four to complete map objectives. The game also implemented mechanics that allowed players to build structures with one another to gain tactical advantages and protect NPCs, drawing on the success of games like Terraria and Minecraft. However, this was shortly after the release of one of the most popular games in the “battle royale” genre, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, which pits players against one another in a shrinking map until a sole victor emerges. Epic Games implemented this gameplay concept into a new free-to-play game, Fortnite: Battle Royale, and the game is now enjoyed by over 250 million players around the world.
Officially announced on Fortnite’s blog on January 18th, the “Emote Royale” has already seen hundreds of contributions and shows no signs of slowing down. The ongoing Fortnite competition, which runs until midnight on January 24th, engages those millions of players by asking them to make a TikTok – essentially a short video – showcasing an original dance they’d like to have included in the game as an emote. By posting a video with the hashtag “#EmoteRoyaleContest,” players get a chance to immortalize themselves in a game that has become one of the biggest gaming sensations in the 21st century. The winner will also receive a VIP giveaway package as well as 25,000 V-Bucks, which are used to purchase in-game content such as skins, emotes, and Battle Passes. The giveaway package itself includes both in-game and physical items, such as a hoodie, a wireless speaker, a collectible Funko, bags, and more.
Working alongside TikTok is yet another example of Epic Games’ ability to tap into the most popular trends and implement them in creative and fun ways. Despite earning nearly $2 billion in 2019, Fortnite: Battle Royale remains free to play and rewarding enough to keep hundreds of millions of players returning every day. Similarly, the “Emote Royale” does not require any money to enter and does not technically have a cash prize. This lack of money directly changing hands is a vital element in Fortnite’s image as a game that’s more about fun than it is about turning a profit.
Regardless of whether one plays Fortnite or not, Epic Games has demonstrated once again that its marketing team certainly has a finger on the pulse of modern trends. Following Emperor Palpatine’s in-game announcement prior to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the “Emote Royale” is yet another exciting way that Fortnite is engaging its vast fanbase.
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Source: Twitter
