How Many People Play Fortnite in 2023? (User & Growth Stats)

As Chapter 4 Season 3 kicks off, Fortnite is witnessing a surge in player activity, fueled by its latest collaboration with Futurama.

Since the beginning of 2023, numerous players have been logging into Fortnite to explore the new content and changes.

Let’s look at the current player count and the statistics in this context. Fortnite’s journey from 2017 to 2023 has been marked by a remarkable surge in popularity.

It continues to establish itself as a leading battle royale game, poised to rival other renowned titles like Warzone, Apex Legends, Overwatch, and more.

The game’s free-to-play model has contributed significantly to its success, drawing in a vast community eager to engage with its gameplay, collaborations, and partnerships with prominent mainstream figures such as Ariana Grande, Travis Scott, and Marvel.

With ongoing efforts to enhance the game and the introduction of Creative 2.0 reigniting players’ passion for Fortnite, a fundamental question arises: What is the current player base of Fortnite in 2023? Is the battle royale phenomenon showing signs of decline, or is it on an upward trajectory?

Let’s explore the Fortnite statistics to find out.

Table of Contents

Getting to Know Fortnite

Back in the spotlight since September 26, 2017.
Located in Cary, North Carolina, as its headquarters.
Leading the charge are notable individuals like Tim Sweeney, holding the CEO position, and Donald Mustard, serving as the Chief Creative Officer.
Functioning as a private entity, driving its endeavors.
A valued member of the Epic Games umbrella.
Flourishing within the dynamic gaming industry.

Fortnite Player Count in 2023

Getting precise information about Fortnite’s player count is a bit challenging since Epic Games doesn’t frequently share such details with the public. Nonetheless, there are some bits of information available.

Epic Games mentioned in 2020 that they had over 350 million registered users for Fortnite, and this number increased to 400 million in 2021.

It’s quite likely that this number grew even more in 2023, although there’s no official confirmation yet.

Remember, the count of registered users includes those who signed up but might have only played a couple of games. So, it might not fully represent the active player base.

To get a better idea of active players, we can check out websites like ActivePlayer.

As per their data, in the last 30 days at the time of writing, Fortnite had an average of around 239 million monthly players. On its busiest day, the game reached a peak of 15 million players.

It’s important to note that these figures tend to shoot up significantly during live events hosted by Fortnite.

For instance, during the finale event of Chapter 2 Season 4, a whopping 15.3 million players joined forces to defeat the Marvel villain Galactus.

Important Figures About Fortnite

In the year 2021 alone, Fortnite brought in a massive $5.8 billion in revenue for Epic Games.
While it was still available, Fortnite managed to accumulate a lifetime mobile revenue of $1.1 billion.
The game boasts a player base of roughly 400 million registered individuals, with around 83 million of them participating on a monthly basis.
An impressive 60 percent or more of these players fall within the age range of 18 to 24 years old.

Fortnite revenue

Year	Revenue ($bn)
2018	5.4
2019	3.7
2020	5.1
2021	5.8

From this revenue data, it’s evident that Fortnite’s financial success has been consistent and even growing over the years.

The game’s revenue climbed from $3.7 billion in 2019 to $5.8 billion in 2021, surpassing its earlier record of $5.4 billion in 2018.

This growth indicates the game’s strong appeal and engagement among players, contributing to its position as a lucrative venture for Epic Games.

Source: Epic Games

Fortnite Insights: Key Usage Figures

Discover these intriguing statistics related to Fortnite:

Approximately 400 million players have registered for Fortnite.
In its initial two complete years post-launch, Fortnite generated an impressive $9.1 billion in revenue.
The introduction of Fortnite events leads to a significant monthly revenue increase of about 23%.
Around 85% of Fortnite’s player base falls within the age range of 18 to 35.
The most significant Fortnite event achieved an astounding milestone with over 15 million players participating concurrently.
Each week, Twitch sees more than 13 million hours of Fortnite gameplay streaming.

These statistics underscore the massive popularity and financial success of Fortnite.

With its large and diverse player base, frequent events, and extensive streaming viewership, Fortnite has solidified its status as a dominant force in the gaming world.

The substantial revenue growth and the immense participation in events highlight the game’s widespread appeal and engagement among players of various age groups.

For a deeper understanding of these Fortnite insights, continue reading below.

Sources: VGChartz, BusinessofApps

Fortnite Player Growth Over Time:

Date	Registered Players
August 2017	1 million
December 2017	30 million
January 2018	45 million
Early 2019	200 million
May 2020	350 million
Estimated	400 million

The data shows a remarkable growth trajectory in Fortnite’s player base since its inception.

The number of registered players started at around 1 million just one month after its launch in August 2017. By the end of the same year, this figure skyrocketed to 30 million, indicating a rapid rise in popularity.

In January 2018, the player count continued to surge to approximately 45 million, demonstrating sustained interest.

The growth didn’t slow down; within a little over a year from its launch, the game’s registered players reached a staggering 200 million, underscoring its widespread appeal and global reach.

This trend persisted, and by May 2020, the number had surged even higher to 350 million players.

Considering this trend and the game’s continuous updates and additions, it’s estimated that the player count has likely crossed the 400 million mark since then.

Source: (explodingtopics.com)

This consistent and exponential growth in the player base highlights the immense popularity and cultural impact of Fortnite on a global scale.

It’s a testament to the game’s ability to attract and engage players across various demographics and regions.

Sources: VGChartz, BusinessofApps

How Fortnite Generates Revenue

Fortnite, a prominent Free-to-Play (F2P) game, has achieved massive success in the gaming industry.

While being free to play, the game has implemented various lucrative revenue strategies, contributing to its financial success.

One of the main sources of revenue for Fortnite is the sale of downloadable content (DLC). This includes in-game items, skins, outfits, emotes, and other virtual goods that players can purchase to customize their characters and enhance their gaming experience.

Players are drawn to these items for their visual appeal and the personalization they offer.

A comparison of DLC purchasing behavior across various popular games underscores Fortnite’s prowess in generating revenue:

Rank	Title	Share of Respondents Purchasing DLCs	Difference to Fortnite
#1	Fortnite	85%	–
#2	Dota	80%	5%
#3	Hearthstone	71%	14%
#4	Destiny	69%	16%
#5	League of Legends	62%	23%
#6	Overwatch	62%	23%
#7	Call of Duty	60%	25%
#8	Heroes of the Storm	59%	26%
#9	The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim	56%	29%
#10	Rocket League	54%	31%

For Fortnite players, investing in DLC is a common practice, with 77% of 1,000 respondents in February 2020 stating they had made in-game purchases. This indicates the substantial appeal and demand for the offered content.

Source: (explodingtopics.com)

The amount spent on in-game purchases has shown an upward trend over the years:

In 2018, players spent an average of approximately $84.67 on DLC per year.
By 2020, this average expenditure increased by around 21% to $102.42.
Comparing these figures to the cost of traditional AAA games, which usually range from $60 to $70, highlights how DLC sales effectively compensate for the absence of an initial purchase fee.

The success of Fortnite’s DLC sales is further underscored by its ability to engage players and provide items that resonate with them.

This not only sustains ongoing player interest but also generates substantial revenue streams for Epic Games.

Fortnite’s revenue

Here’s a breakdown of Fortnite’s revenue in 2019, along with the influence of special events on its earnings:

Jan 2019: The “Ice Storm” major event contributed to a revenue of $350 million, setting the tone for the year.
Feb 2019: The “Showtime” concert event, coupled with the “Earthquake” minor event, boosted revenue to $398 million, a notable increase of $48 million from January.
Mar 2019: Revenue decreased slightly to $361 million, indicating a drop of $37 million.
Apr 2019: Revenue further decreased to $321 million, reflecting a decrease of $40 million.
May 2019: The “Unvaulting” major event led to a significant revenue increase to $420 million, marking a notable rise of $99 million.
Jun 2019: Revenue dropped to $272 million, showing a decrease of $148 million.
Jul 2019: The “Final Showdown” major event and the “Zero Point Destabilization” minor event resulted in a revenue of $267 million, a decrease of $5 million.
Aug 2019: Revenue rebounded to $314 million, with a $47 million increase from July.
Sep 2019: Revenue decreased to $200 million, experiencing a notable decline of $114 million.
Oct 2019: The “The End” major event marked a revenue increase to $272 million, rising by $72 million.
Nov 2019: Revenue dropped to $190 million, representing a decrease of $82 million.
Dec 2019: The “Live At Risky” Star Wars collaboration major event significantly boosted revenue to $340 million, reflecting an impressive increase of $150 million.

From this data, it’s evident that Epic Games‘ special events have significantly impacted Fortnite’s revenue.

In months featuring special events, especially those with major events like The Unvaulting and The End (Chapter 1), there was a notable increase in revenue.

While some months without events experienced decreases in revenue, the overall trend indicates that special events drive a substantial portion of Fortnite’s earnings.

In the six months with events, Fortnite generated $2.047 billion in revenue, compared to $1.658 billion in the non-event months, showcasing the significance of these events in boosting revenue by 23.46%.

Source: The Verge, Fortnite Wiki, Eurogamer

How Many Hours Do People Spend Playing Fortnite?

Here’s a breakdown of Fortnite players’ weekly playing habits and their engagement during special events:

Weekly Playing Habits: A 2020 survey of 1,000 Fortnite players shed light on their weekly gaming habits:

Number of Hours Per Week	Percentage
0 to 5 Hours	36%
6 to 10 Hours	34%
11 to 15 Hours	17%
16 to 20 Hours	8%
21 Hours or More	5%

The survey suggests that a significant portion of Fortnite players dedicate a considerable amount of their weekly gaming time to the title.

Source: (explodingtopics.com)

Notably, 70% of players reported playing under 10 hours per week, with “0-5 hours” being the most common response, while 1 in 20 players spent over 21+ hours per week playing the game.

Engagement During Special Events: Epic Games strategically leverages special events to attract players and boost engagement.

Here are some examples of how these events have driven concurrent player numbers:

Date	Event	Concurrent Players
November 2018	Destruction of the Purple Cube	8.3 million
February 2019	Marshmello Concert	10.7 million
April 2020	Travis Scott Concert	12.3 million
November 2020	Galactus Event	15.3 million

These events result in significant spikes in concurrent players, indicating the success of Epic Games’ approach to integrating special events into the game.

For instance, the Galactus Event in November 2020 drew a remarkable 15.3 million concurrent players, demonstrating the strong engagement and interest generated by these unique experiences.

Source: LendEDU, Marketing Charts, The Verge

Fortnite player demographics

Here’s a breakdown of Fortnite player demographics based on age and gender:

Age Distribution: A 2018 analysis in the US highlighted the age distribution of Fortnite players:

Age Range	Percentage
18 to 24 years	62.7%
25 to 34 years	22.5%
35 to 44 years	12.7%
45 to 54 years	2%

The analysis underscores that the majority of Fortnite players are in the 18 to 24 years age range, with over 62% falling into this category. The age distribution reveals a strong attraction among younger players.

Gender Distribution: The same survey also explored the gender distribution among Fortnite players:

Gender	Percentage
Male	72.4%
Female	27.6%

The data indicates that around 72% of Fortnite players are male, while approximately 28% are female.

These demographics suggest that Fortnite has a predominantly young player base, with the majority of players falling within the 18 to 24 years age range.

Additionally, the gender distribution highlights a higher representation of male players within the game.

Is Fortnite Losing Popularity?

With millions of players engaging daily in 2022 and live events still drawing significant attention, it’s evident that Fortnite is far from losing its appeal. The game continues to maintain its widespread popularity, even during quieter periods.

While there was a bit of a downturn for Fortnite towards the conclusion of Chapter 2, the recent launch of Chapter 4 has revitalized player interest.

This new chapter brings exciting additions like new weapons and dirt bikes, sparking a resurgence of players.

Source: (explodingtopics.com)

Furthermore, the Dragon Ball Super crossover, a recent addition to the game, created a buzz among anime enthusiasts.

The crossover led to a surge of players looking to grab unique skins and unlock cosmetic items from the popular series. This underlines the fact that Fortnite remains a significant player in the gaming world.

Whether Fortnite’s player base is expanding or contracting, its cultural impact is undeniable.

The game has left a lasting imprint on gaming culture, ensuring its influence will continue, regardless of the game’s trajectory.

The player base of Fortnite has experienced fluctuations in recent months, although the decline hasn’t been severe enough to significantly impact their sales.

These numbers, sourced from Active Player, shed light on the monthly changes in active players:

Active Player, shed light on the monthly changes in active players:

Month	Monthly Active Players	Monthly Gain/Loss	Monthly Gain/Loss %
Last 30 Days	252,600,145	+943,638	+0.37%
December 2022	251,656,507	+1,511,751	-0.60%
November 2022	250,144,756	-880,842	-0.35%
October 2022	251,025,598	–2,539,412	-1.00%
September 2022	253,565,010	–3,839,113	-1.49%
August 2022	257,404,123	+2,389,710	+0.94%
July 2022	255,014,413	-9,486,753	-3.59%

It’s important to note that a significant portion of players left Fortnite due to the lawsuit against Apple, resulting in the game’s removal from the App Store.

However, beyond this specific incident, Fortnite hasn’t reported any substantial declines in player numbers.

The game’s popularity remains resilient, with fluctuations likely influenced by various factors, including content updates and external events.

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Conclusion: How Many People Play Fortnite

Fortnite’s remarkable global triumph has had a profound impact on both the free-to-play gaming model and the battle royale genre as a whole.

Even in 2023, the game maintains its significance, managing to retain its relevance by consistently drawing in players, viewers, and partnerships through various collaborations.

This ongoing engagement speaks to the enduring appeal and influence of Fortnite within the gaming landscape.