The Basics: Before the pandemic hit, video game and software developer Epic Games, the company behind hit video game Fortnite, had already been hosting virtual events, as well as in-person ones including esports competitions. But 2020 will most likely mark a tipping point for the company, which saw exponential growth by capturing the attention of a global stay-at-home audience and offering a virtual space that was primed for expansion. Fortnite boasts a total of more than 350 million players, and Epic Games is now valued at $17.3 billion after a recent $1.78 billion funding deal. The Cary, N.C.-based firm is also known for its Unreal game development engine, which powers many top games and is set to become a high-tech weapon used in virtual event production.
Standout Event of the Year: In April 2020, Travis Scott performed inside Fortnite, creating a kind of trippy, interactive music video. The 10-minute experience, titled “Astronomical,” featured a holographic version of Scott who used the video game setting as a type of virtual stage as attendees’ avatars bounced around the setting. While it wasn’t necessarily a new concept for Epic Games—Marshmello had performed a live, in-game concert in 2019—it did showcase the power of the platform to a wider audience and demonstrated how video games could transcend esports. Over 12.3 million concurrent Fortnite players participated live in the virtual performance.
Virtual vs. IRL: This successful integration of musical acts into the video game spawned the creation of Fortnite’s “Party Royale” island, where players can hang out with friends, play games, watch movies, and enjoy live entertainment like DJ sets. (No fighting or weapons are allowed.) As part of “Party Royale,” Epic Games introduced a live three-week-long concert series called "Spotlight" that featured live in-game concerts from various artists who performed at the company’s new studio in Los Angeles that was built specifically for in-game concerts—aiming to make Fortnite’s virtual stage into the next must-do tour stop. This evolution from video game to virtual entertainment destination allows artists and brands to create experiences that aren’t encumbered by real-world restrictions like venue capacity or safety measures.
What’s Next: Epic Games recently confirmed, in a statement, that there will be no in-person Fortnite events in 2021, including competitive events like the Fortnite World Cup. Adding that, “we will continue to provide online competitions throughout 2021 with the hopes that physical events, in some form, can return at some point in the future."
