It can sometimes be easy to forget thatFortnitehas been going strong since 2017, especially since it has long since moved away from its battle royale andLeft 4 Dead-esque roots to encompass a far wider range of experiences. Of course, it is still very much a battle royale title at heart - if only because it continues to be its most popular mode - but it is hard to argue thatFortnitehas become far bigger than even its own namesake, thanks to a plethora of crossovers and rather successful integration with the LEGO brand.
This is best evidenced by itsbrand-new social sim mode,Fortnite Brick Life. Announced as part of a huge lineup of new game modes and features coming to both the baseFortniteandLEGO Fortniteexperiences,Fortnite Brick Lifeis a social sim game mode that allows up to 32 players to roleplay in a sizable LEGO city filled with all the amenities and workplaces fans would expect. Of course, since the release of its initial gameplay trailer, it has been hard not to see the striking resemblance to Rockstar’s immensely popularGTA Online.
Fortnite Brick Life Looks A Lot Like GTA Online
It’s An Urban Open-World Social Sim For 32 Players
It’s hard not to feel likeFortnite Brick Lifelooks a lot likeGTA Online, at least in its initial gameplay reveal trailer. From the way it fragments its logo at the end - evocative ofGTA’siconic box art design style - to its bike racing through the city streets and even Florida-esque city design reminding players of the immensely hypedGTA 6, it is undeniable that a lot ofGrand Theft Auto’sDNA is running throughFortnite Brick Life’soverall design.
It isn’t surprising thatFortnitehas looked to its live service competitors for inspiration, especially considering it isundergoing major changesto entice new players and appease its current enormous player base.Fortnite Brick Lifeis just another step in its expansion into all facets of live service gameplay, with the free-to-play title now having a mode that is attempting to ape or directly compete withRocket League,COD,GTA, and evenMinecraft, to an extent.Fortniteis becoming an all-consuming entity, but, at least in the case of itsGTA Online-esque mode, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
It Has Dominated The Space For Too Long
Fortnitedoesn’t have an issue going after some of the biggest games, as it has proven with itsnewCall of Dutymode. However, that isn’t inherently bad, especially in the case ofFortnite Brick Life, which offers a child-friendly approach to the urban social sim.It allows players - especially younger ones - to hang with their friends in a larger-than-life city, take on jobs, and build their own homes. It’s a dream come true, the likes onlyRobloxhas offered for that demographic, although it has its own fair share ofproblemsthat make it less suitable for children.
Was Fortnite OG worth the wait?
Fortnite OG is here, and after having played quite a few matches in the game mode, I have a few issues with it. There is something great about going back to the original map with the friends you used to play the game with. In that regard, I love Fortnite OG. However, since the game was s primitive back then, I have found it way harder to come across shields, chests, and goot loot on the move. I still enjoy playing it with my friends, but Fortnite OG will likely be at its best starting with season 3’s additions.
Of course, that’s not to say thatFortnite Brick Lifewon’t appeal to the game’s older audience, as it will certainly have enough mass appeal, like the game’s otherLEGOmode, that will inevitably entice those who’ve perhaps already sunk hundreds of hours intoGTA Online. However,what has madeFortnitesuch a success is to distill what makes other, often more mature experiences so great, simplify them, and make them more approachable and appealing to a younger audience.
Fortnite Brick Life Is Exactly The Mode It Needs
It Continues Its Trend Of Fresh New Ideas
Fortnite Brick Lifehas also come at the right time, as the brand has slowly beenslipping too far into nostalgia. With the 5v5 first-person mode andBrick Life’ssocial sim gameplay,Fortnitecontinues to spread itself as far as possible when it starts to feel like its preexisting modes have little new to offer. That’s not to say the current run of Seasons in the mainFortnitegame mode has been bad or without redeeming qualities, but rather thatFortnitehas and will always do whatever it can to survive, andBrick Lifeis a part of those efforts.
Not every mode or Season works in the game’s favor, but typically, they prove to be polished experiences with plenty to offer returning and new fans.Brick Lifeis sure to entice a whole new group of people who are perhaps less enamored withFortnite’sgameplay loopor even the mainLEGO Fortnitegame mode, while thenew and indefiniteOGmodewill entertain those who fell out of love with all ofFortnite’svarious innovations.
Fortnite Fans Are Fed Up With Bots Taking Over In Massive Quantities & Are Begging Epic For A Fix
Fans of the Battle Royale Fortnite are getting very tired of all of the bots taking over their matches and took to X to ask Epic for a quick fix.
It is fascinating to watch the continued and exponential growth ofFortnite, with its seemingly unstoppable reach pulling in millions of players at a consistent rate. There is certainly an argument to be made about how the game’s identity has been stripped from it before being stapled back on haphazardly thanks to the introduction, removal, and return of many of its most popular features and modes. However, it is hard to argue that this plethora of game modes,Fortnite Brick Lifeincluded, are bad for players, especially when they continue to be completely free.
