#GamingBytes: Fortnite successfully captures the Nintendo Switch scene
Fortnite is an immensely popular Battle Royale that keeps adding new and exciting content to hook more gamers. Enjoying a vast number of gamers across all platforms, it was made available for Nintendo Switch users in June during E3. Since then, reports have stated 'nearly half' of the Nintendo Switch users have installed Fortnite, cementing its dominance on this platform. Read about it here.
The graphics of Fortnite, which are inspired by Minecraft, offers a gameplay where 100 players are dropped into a map and they have to loot, kill, strategically build defensive structures and survive, while staying within the playzone, in order to win the Victory Royale.
'Nearly half' the Nintendo Switch users downloading Fortnite sounds impressive, but what does it mean in terms of numbers? Nintendo has sold 22.86 million Switch consoles, as of September 30, according to official reports. Thus it would mean approximately 11 million Nintendo Switch gamers have installed Fortnite. This puts Fortnite at par with Switch favorite franchises like 'Legend of Zelda' and 'Super Mario'.
The staggering 11 million download record, of Fortnite, on Nintendo Switch is indeed impressive, but it is not an accurate benchmark of the game's true popularity. Since Fortnite is free-to-play on Switch, relevant data points are the time spent by gamers and the amount spent on in-game micro-transactions. Nintendo has reported 'many people' play Fortnite 'boosting the overall utilization ratio of Nintendo Switch'.
Nintendo opined the success of Fortnite on its platform can be attributed to the fact that gamers can play Fortnite on the go, thanks to the portable tablet controller. While some might point out that equal portability is possible for Android and iOS devices, Battle Royales on mobiles are cumbersome. Multiple key functions are difficult on touch controls, and Switch's controller is more preferable.
