The rumor is Fortnite is dying.

With 400 million users, that’s implausible.

But it’s not as captivating as it used to be.

Fortnite took the world by storm when “Battle Royale” came out in 2017, and although millions still actively play the game it is apparent that Fortnite’s momentum has dropped in recent times.

According to the data, Fortnite’s user base remains strong. With 20 million registered users in 2017 (the release year), 125 million in 2018, 250 million in 2019, 350 million in 2020, and an estimated 400 million in 2023 (Priori Data).

The game has been out for several years and its growth rate has slowed for the simple fact of not being able get the same game twice.

People who play the game have endured the ups and downs of each season.

“The best time was chapter one season seven (around the first year it came out), the worst time is definitely now,” Senior Finn Cupp said.

It is still the same game, the dramatic changes made to the game have made it feel and play essentially as a different game. This is one of the major reasons people are off put by Fortnite now even if they were not before.

Cupp has seen fewer peers loading onto the bus as the game ages.

“A lot less of my friends play,” Cupp said.

Fortnite has also lost its luster for senior Keegan Turner, who used to play several times a week. Now, it’s different.

 “When my friends ask me to play I say no because there are so many better games, the people that still play Fortnite are generally really good where it makes it annoying for people who are just playing for fun,” Turner said. 

There is a shift in the liking of Fortnite from when it was a new game. While they may still like the game, people are more open to other games instead of just playing Fortnite like when it was a “trend.”

Fortnite’s impact and influence on video games will never be forgotten and it’s too soon to tell if it will enter the legendary status if Minecraft or Mario.

“I still have a good time on [Fortnite],” Cupp said.