Fortnite: Number of Players, by year
YearNumber of players,
in millions
Mar 2023500
May 2021400
May 2020350
Mar 2019250
Nov 2018200
Jun 2018125
Jan 201845
Dec 201730
Aug 20171
  • Region: Worldwide
  • Time period: Aug 2017 to Mar 2023
  • Published: Mar 2023

Data Analysis and Insights

Updated: Mar 27, 2024 | Published by: Statistico | About Us | Data sources

Exponential Growth in Player Count

Fortnite experienced a significant surge in its player base, growing from 1 million players in August 2017 to 500 million in March 2023, demonstrating a massive increase of 49900% over less than six years.

Impressive Yearly Increases

The year-over-year growth showcases remarkable spikes, notably between January 2018 and June 2018, where the player count soared from 45 million to 125 million, marking an increase of 178% in just five months.

Steady Growth Post-Pandemic

Post-pandemic, Fortnite's growth continued steadily, with the player base expanding from 350 million in May 2020 to 500 million by March 2023, indicating a 43% increase as the world adjusted to new norms.

Significant Milestones in Player Engagement

Key milestones in Fortnite's history underscore its rising popularity, with the player count reaching 200 million by November 2018 and 400 million by May 2021, reflecting the game's capacity to double its player base within spans of approximately three years.

Rapid Initial Adoption

The initial growth phase between August 2017 and December 2017 highlighted Fortnite's rapid adoption, where the player base expanded from 1 million to 30 million, a 2900% increase in just four months, indicating strong initial interest and viral spread.

Consistency in Growth Trajectory

Fortnite's growth trajectory remained consistent, with significant player count increases at regular intervals, illustrating the game's ongoing appeal and the effectiveness of its updates, marketing, and community engagement strategies.

Robust Increase Pre-2020

Before 2020, Fortnite's player base saw a robust increase, reaching 250 million by March 2019 from 200 million in November 2018, indicating a 25% growth in four months, showcasing the game's strong momentum even in its later stages.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much has Fortnite's player base grown from August 2017 to March 2023?

Fortnite's player base grew from 1 million players in August 2017 to 500 million in March 2023, an increase of 49900%.

Terms and Definitions

Fortnite is a popular online multiplayer video game developed and published by Epic Games. It's available in three distinct game mode versions that share the same game engine and general gameplay: Fortnite: Save the World, Fortnite Battle Royale, and Fortnite Creative. The game is free to play, supported by microtransactions, and it is played by millions of people worldwide.

Player count refers to the number of active participants in a game at any given time. In the context of Fortnite, the player count would reflect the total number of individual users playing the game. This can also be used to gauge a game's popularity and activity level.

Monthly player count refers to the sum of unique players who engage with the game within a calendar month. These statistics often give developers and analysts insights into the game's performance, the effectiveness of updates or patches, and changes in player engagement over time.

Battle Royale is a mode in Fortnite where 100 players fight against each other in player-versus-player combat to be the last one standing. It is a free-to-play mode, featuring up to four-player squad play and emphasizes strategic combat scenarios while incorporating building elements from the other Fortnite modes.

'Fortnite: Save the World' is the cooperative player-versus-environment (PvE) mode in Fortnite. It is a premium paid mode, where players collaborate to achieve common objectives against AI-controlled opponents. It features up to four players working together to complete various missions.

Fortnite Creative is a mode in Fortnite where players are given complete freedom to create worlds and battle arenas. It offers a more relaxed gameplay atmosphere with a strong emphasis on player creativity and design.

Epic Games is a video game and software development company based in the United States. They are the developers and publishers of Fortnite, in addition to other popular titles and the widely used Unreal Engine.

Microtransactions are a business model where users can purchase virtual goods with micro-payments. In Fortnite, players can buy various items like skins, dances, and battle passes through microtransactions.

The Unreal Engine is a game engine developed by Epic Games. It's one of the most widely-used game engines in the world, and it powers Fortnite. The Unreal Engine facilitates the creation of everything from 2D mobile games to AAA console titles, and it's recognized for its cutting-edge graphics capabilities.
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