Fortnite's Live-Service Game Struggles Expose Industry's Failures

For years, game publishers and developers have attempted to replicate Fortnite’s success with live-service games, but their efforts have led to a mess of monetization models, endless updates, and exploited players. Epic Games’ battle royale shooter initially set the bar high, delivering internet-shaking events and celebrity cameos that captured the public’s attention and raked in billions of dollars. However, as other developers tried to follow suit, they encountered significant challenges. Many live-service games have become notorious for their aggressive monetization tactics, forcing players to spend excessive amounts of time and money to keep up with the latest updates. The result is a vicious cycle of burnout and frustration among gamers, who feel nickel-and-dimed by the very business models designed to sustain them. The struggles of live-service games are evident in Fortnite’s own recent performance. Despite its initial success, Epic Games’ popular battle royale shooter has started to show signs of fatigue, with some critics accusing it of becoming a soulless, endless grind. The industry as a whole can learn from Fortnite’s mistakes and the pitfalls that have befallen other live-service games.