Saxs Persson, currently at Epic Games overlooking the Fortnite ecosystem, previously contributed to the massive success of Minecraft during his 12-year tenure at Mojang. Now, he is focusing on Epic’s plans for Lego Fortnite and two other new games, Rocket Racing and Fortnite Festival.
Persson explains that the aim of these new games is to expand Fortnite’s appeal to a broader range of players by offering a variety of gaming experiences within the free-to-play world of Fortnite. He also emphasizes the importance of continually updating and evolving the game to keep it fresh and engaging for players.
Persson acknowledges the success of Battle Royale but highlights the growing interest among Fortnite players for more diverse gaming options beyond just Battle Royale. The introduction of Fortnite Creative and UEFN reinforces this trend, indicating that players are seeking new and varied content to enhance their gaming experience.
The strategy behind the three new games revolves around extending the gaming toolkit in different directions while also attracting new players to explore Fortnite’s diverse offerings beyond Battle Royale.
TechCrunch/Epic Games
Each of the three games, Lego Fortnite, Rocket Racing, and Fortnite Festival, introduces new tools and features designed to appeal to different audiences, such as music enthusiasts and racing game fans. These additions aim to diversify the Fortnite experience and draw in players with varied interests.
Persson also discusses the efforts to make Fortnite more accessible and age-appropriate for younger players through collaboration with Lego and the implementation of new ratings paradigms and parental control features.
Regarding Lego Fortnite, Persson points out the inspiration drawn from popular games like Zelda, Minecraft, and Animal Crossing, emphasizing the cozy gaming aspects and the emotional resonance that these games evoke.
TechCrunch/Epic Games
The procedurally generated landscapes of Lego Fortnite are designed to evoke a sense of adventure and exploration similar to that found in survival games like Valheim and Minecraft, further appealing to players’ curiosity and sense of discovery.
Finally, Persson discusses the importance of showcasing the diverse gaming experiences within Fortnite to dispel the misconception that it is solely a battle royale game and underscores the potential of user-generated content in creating engaging narratives and experiences through platforms like YouTube and Twitch.
Overall, the focus remains on delivering abundant and diverse content updates to keep players engaged and excited about the evolving world of Fortnite.
