Fortnite is a free-to-play platform by Epic Games, launched in July 2017 with the cooperative Save the World mode, but it exploded in popularity with the Battle Royale mode (September 2017), where 100 players compete to be the last one standing on a shrinking island after dropping from a Battle Bus. Its success drove Epic to expand the platform, and by 2025 it supported games like Lego Fortnite, Fortnite Festival, and Rocket Racing, alongside user-created content via the Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN). The game monetizes through V-Bucks and seasonal battle passes introduced in December 2017, offering cosmetic rewards like skins and emotes, with seasons lasting two to three months. Beginning with Season 4 in May 2018, Epic added a narrative structure using in-game events to explain map changes and facilitate licensed crossovers with Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars. Notable promotional events include a Marshmello virtual concert on February 2, 2019, watched by over 10 million players, and a Star Wars preview. A side-mode, Fortnite OG, launched in December 2024 to revisit the original Chapter 1 experience.