Epic Games is Trying to Create a Wholesome Metaverse in Fortnite

Many are in a fog regarding what the metaverse actually is. To some, it is a game, to others it is a digital replica of our real surroundings. One thing is common and that’s interoperability. Every virtual world is interconnected with each other, and Epic Games’ Fortnite is among the few that do justice to this concept. Head of video game company Harmonix, Alex Rigopolous, recently discussed the Epic Games’ metaverse with Game Informer, an American video game magazine.

More Than Just Battle Royale Game

There’s no concrete definition for the metaverse but it is defined by many as a multiverse of digital worlds. Alex explains about Fortnite that “It’s not a game. It’s not just Battle Royale. It is a universe of games, and it’s a universe of games that are all connected with each other in this way that has never been done in gaming before.”

Every metaverse has its own rule like a planet in the solar system. Typically, in a video game, a user can buy and play with in-game items within the boundaries of that game. Games like Fortnite defy this rule. Players are able to take their skins or digital items in different games operating on the platform.

“If you acquire an outfit or a skin, that’s an identity you can take with you through all of these games. If you acquire music to play in Fortnite Festival, well, you can also use that music in the jam system, which you can take anywhere through the ecosystem,” Alex explains.

Looking closely at the game, users can see the game has all kinds of collaborations and crossovers, specifically in pop culture. That includes Eminem, Marvel Comics, DC Comics and more. Possible collaborations for the upcoming years are rumored to be with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT), Doctor Who, and more.

Alex Rigopolous said, “So, this whole idea of a universe of games, of all different kinds for all different types of players, where they can all interact with each other socially, and then the property that they acquire in this world is valuable across the ecosystem – no one has ever even attempted anything like this before. That’s the universe that I think Epic’s trying to create.”

Fortnite rival Roblox is into this very much the same. Users can create their own digital worlds on the platform. To this date, brands like Spotify, Gucci, Nike, and more have their presence there already. Moreover, there’s no boundation, users can take their items acquired from Spotify Island to Nikeland.

As of now, these two platforms are dominating the metaverse landscape. Fortnite has a monthly active user base of 236 Million while Roblox holds 214 Million users. Although they haven’t integrated blockchain technology which is considered a vital element of the metaverse. Other metaverse-focused games like Decentraland and The Sandbox use blockchain applications like non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and cryptocurrencies.

Anurag is working as a fundamental writer for The Coin Republic since 2021. He likes to exercise his curious muscles and research deep into a topic. Though he covers various aspects of the crypto industry, he is quite passionate about the Web3, NFTs, Gaming, and Metaverse, and envisions them as the future of the (digital) economy. A reader & writer at heart, he calls himself an “average guitar player” and a fun footballer.