[Discussion] Original Fortnite Version Returns Permanently as Epic Games Thrives

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Fortnite Original Game Set for Permanent Comeback

Immortalized in the hearts of many battle royale enthusiasts, the original edition of Fortnite, affectionately labeled the "OG" version, is gearing up for a re-launch set for next month. In a statement issued via Twitter, Epic Games, the creator of the much-loved franchise, revealed plans to reintroduce the OG Fortnite version on December 6th. This time, however, they intend it to be a permanent fixture, allowing players to revisit the game classic on an ongoing basis. Players can anticipate a nostalgic journey back to the Fortnite battle royale launch days of September 2017, enabling them to traverse the original map, collect traditional loot, and experience past seasons anew.

Fortnite OG's Resounding Success and Epic's Financial Stability

The decision follows a successful trial, temporarily reinstated back in November 2023. Enthusiasm towards the return of Fortnite OG significantly exceeded expectations, resulting in the platform’s “most momentous day” to date, with a staggering 44.7 million players re-engaging with the game. Amid this ground-breaking accomplishment, Epic Games has also managed to solidify itself financially, despite recent workforce contractions. The game development titan, based in North Carolina, confirmed sizeable layoffs last year, amounting to 16% of the entirety of its staff (830 in total). As part of their strategic repositioning, Epic divested music platform Bandcamp and spun off the majority of SuperAwesome, a child-friendly technology platform. Both acquisitions occurred in 2022 and 2020, respectively, ushering approximately 250 employees out of Epic.

Fortnite's Transition to a Creator-Centric Ecosystem

Back in 2023, Epic's CEO, Tim Sweeney, pointed out that the company had been heavily investing in Fortnite's transition towards a metaverse-inspired environment for content creators. Additionally, he highlighted a significant shift in the company's economic structure. During his presentation at 2024's Unreal Fest, Sweeney reported that Epic spent the past year "meticulously rebuilding and executing on all fronts". He added, "I'm proud to announce that the company is in a state of financial stability, and Fortnite and the Epic Games Store have set new concurrency and success records." Furthermore, he divulged that Fortnite reached an impressive 110 million monthly active users during the holiday season of 2023, a major feat for a seven-year-old game. To contextualize this, Fortnite had 78 million monthly active users back in August 2018.

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