Fortnite's galactic gamble fails to land as player numbers dip to two-year low
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The last time the numbers dipped this low was in May 2023, with 927,403 average daily players.
Epic Games had banked on the popular Star Wars franchise to give Fortnite a boost, but the results suggest otherwise. The event introduced lightsabers, blasters, Force powers, and even a fully voiced AI Darth Vader NPC. However, even these features couldn't hold players' attention, with many suggesting the collaboration missed the mark.
A collaboration that backfired?
While collaborations have long been Fortnite's signature move, this season's Galactic Battle may have been a step too far. Some players found the Star Wars-themed gameplay overwhelming, citing a shift from Fortnite's traditional mechanics.
Critics online pointed to "too many game modes" and Fortnite becoming 'a walking advertisement.' One user on X (formerly Twitter) remarked, 'We want to play Fortnite, not Battlefront,' referencing the stark gameplay similarities to EA's Star Wars shooter.
Another quipped, 'Every Star Wars collab is always ass or boring.'
The use of AI-generated voice lines for
, with SAG-AFTRA reportedly pursuing legal action over possible contract violations.
Fortnite esports scene holds steady
Despite the declining numbers, Fortnite's competitive scene remains relatively unshaken. The Fortnite Champion Series (FNCS) Pro-Am in May recorded over 600,000 peak viewers. Winners Peterbot and AussieAntics brought some much-needed spotlight back to the game, showing that esports fans are still tuned in - even if casual players are drifting away.
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Epic Games will be hoping that upcoming events and updates can reignite interest. The "Death Star Sabotage" season-ending event, scheduled for June 7, is expected to dramatically change the game's map and kick off Chapter 6 Season 3.
With rumours pointing to a superhero-themed next season and original character designs taking centre stage, Fortnite may be gearing up for a major reset. Epic's teaser about 'super-scale news' has already sparked curiosity among loyal fans.
As Fortnite approaches a pivotal update, all eyes are on how it recovers from this rough patch. While the galaxy far, far away didn't deliver the spark Epic hoped for, the next chapter may be the game's shot at redemption.
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