Persson joined Epic in 2022 to contribute to developing Fortnite’s plans and oversee the creation of Lego Fortnite. This new project aims to transform the initial press release into a refined and ambitious standalone experience to attract new players to Fortnite’s free-to-play universe.
We talked to Persson about Epic’s ambitious goals for Lego Fortnite and its two other upcoming titles, Rocket Racing and Fortnite Festival. Considering Fortnite’s tendency for excessive features and a consistent release of new content, the three games are still in their early stages — but here’s a preview of their future direction.
Questions and answers have been revised to be shorter and easier to understand.
TechCrunch: Is the aim of introducing the three additional games, especially Lego Fortnite, to expand the appeal of Fortnite to different types of players?
Persson: Battle Royale has been extremely popular. From a Battle Royale game perspective, we understand our gamers well. Over the past six years, we have made significant efforts to consistently create a game that remains innovative, adapts, remains dynamic, regularly updated, and distinguishes us from competitors by maintaining a lighthearted approach. That has consistently been the objective of Battle Royale.
The subsequent development that followed was the release of Fortnite Creative and later the launch of UEFN (Unreal Editor for Fortnite) in March of this year. This demonstrates the recognition that Fortnite players desire to engage in a wider variety of games beyond only Battle Royale. The more significant content people own and the higher quality and diversity of content contribute to their increased satisfaction.
Suppose your sole objective is to express that if you join Fortnite. In that case, we kindly request you consider the various alternatives available and remain for as long as you desire, as we anticipate that you will have an enjoyable experience.
Our creators have done an outstanding job of expanding Fortnite’s player base. Battle Royale is significant – it is a central feature or whatever term you use. If you inquired about the number of islands players visit weekly, the average would be about seven distinct islands. And they come in many styles, aesthetics, and genres… We inquire with our designers about their desired creations. If they desire to build it, we anticipate that there will be individuals interested in playing it. That has been the approach so far.
For us to create high-quality tools, we need to utilise them personally. To further expand the capabilities and range of Unreal Engine, we need to create original content that pushes the platform’s boundaries. Then, provide those tools to creators and tell them that they now have these skills.
Considering that the three games we revealed, Lego Fortnite, Rocket Racing, and [Fortnite] Festival, each aim to expand the range of features in a specific way while also appealing to new players who may realise that Fortnite is more than simply Battle Royale. All we need to do is help them install 54 gigabytes… and once you arrive, there will be plenty of activities for you to engage in.
How do those collections of tools appear, and what can individuals construct using them?
With Lego Fortnite… We have put in a significant amount of effort into procedural generation. Additionally, we have dedicated considerable time to exploring various styles, such as incorporating Lego styles. This allows players to experience both the Fortnite and the Lego styles when playing. And in the future, we anticipate that creators will also have access to that.
The world of procedures is quite captivating. Once again, similar to how we have traditionally worked on a fixed playing field, Lego is leading the way in developing numerous procedural tools that we intend to make available to designers. We aim to create a significantly larger island, approximately 20 times larger than a Battle Royale island. It is a vast island that we are still working to make bigger. That would once again be advantageous for creators.
Rocket Racing incorporates reliable racing features into our creators, course design editors, and similar functionalities. The game is significant because it originates from Rocket League, and it is a superb game. We have a strong belief in that game. Creators also receive excellent automobile tools as a side benefit.
And lastly, the Fortnite Festival. Considerable work has been dedicated to developing tools for music generating, editing, creating, and incorporating music into games. Many of those devices, as we refer to them, have already been made available to makers.
That is the objective. Music appeals to a fresh audience. Racing appeals to a fresh audience. Lego is appealing to a fresh group of people. While it may attract current Fortnite gamers, it will also appeal to people not interested in Battle Royale.
Is the goal here to make Fortnite more accessible to younger players?
We developed a new rating system in Fortnite, which rates every piece of content. This was done separately from LEGO but in partnership with them. That integrates well with our parental controls. Allowing your child to play Fortnite doesn’t necessarily mean you have to open the door completely. You may still have a detailed level of control over the games your children play.
And what can you see? Yeah, Lego is rated E10, which means it appeals to a broader range of players in terms of mechanics. However, beneath that, once again, there is a complete set of new characteristics designed to assess islands individually. To specifically concentrate on how can we create an excellent experience that is suitable for people of all ages and ensures their safety.
Lego Fortnite cleverly incorporates elements from various genres and gameplay mechanics already prevalent in other games. Animal Crossing, Minecraft, and Valheim are examples, although there are many others.
All games should draw inspiration from something. What is anything that brings us all pleasure? We like playing Zelda, Minecraft, Animal Crossing, and Stardew Valley. All four are fantastic games that have stood the test of time. That strongly connects with people emotionally, and we would love to contribute to that genre and be a part of it.
I don’t believe we have a specific identity. We have elements of Animal Crossing and a social simulation game… There is nothing quite as adorable as constructing a structure with small figurines that each have occupations. They all aspire to be a part of your community and can assist with the harvest and accompany you on exciting journeys. The concept of the social simulation game is primarily centred around bringing the Lego imagination to life. However, it also incorporates the comforting elements of gaming, such as homesteading, building, village development, and investing in your characters.
There is a significant moment when you initially view the map in a survival game that generates its content procedurally, such as Valheim or Minecraft. It’s thrilling, and you are unaware of your surroundings and the potential risks. Lego Fortnite evokes a similar sensation.
AFortnite’s crucial aspect is the anticipation of what lies ahead. When we began working on the procedural generation of these landscapes, there was significant exploration and creation of visually impressive elements. We gradually incorporated more and more features, aiming to create a seamless blend of Lego and Fortnite while ensuring that both Lego players and Fortnite players would be satisfied. Our goal was to truly comprehend and cater to players’ preferences from both franchises. And the scenery is filled with that.
The underlying concept was that Fortnite serves as the foundation, while Lego acts as the medium of expression. Essentially, everything you come into contact with becomes Lego while you play, and the more you play, the more you turn the world into Lego. I truly enjoyed arriving in a Fortnite world that had been magically changed into a Lego figure and turning it into a survival sandbox. In this genuine sandbox, anything is possible.
I enjoy that genre because it resonates with everyone in a straightforward manner where you have the freedom to determine your objectives, and the main goal is to stay alive. But everything else, such as flourishing, is entirely within your control.
Individuals unfamiliar with Fortnite and must be made aware of its user-generated content often perceive it as a whimsical battle royale game in which 100 individuals engage in combat until only one is alive. How can you spread the message that Fortnite is a diverse ecosystem that now includes these three significant games we have created?
There’s nothing quite like YouTube videos showcasing the antics of Lego Fortnite or your preferred streamer enjoying it. Since it possesses significant potential for storytelling among YouTubers and Twitch streamers, it’s a sandbox designed for you to share tales.
This is what has contributed to Minecraft’s significant success. It depends on your efforts, implying that the more imaginative you are, the higher quality your films will be. The streaming community and YouTube will assist us in conveying our narrative.
Now, let’s move on to updates. Epic and the Fortnite team understand that users desire content and updates, their main priority.
We all agreed that the most effective way to recount the narrative of Fortnite is to include an excessive amount of content. It demonstrates that when Epic focuses its efforts, we have completed our preparations and are confident that Fortnite is the ideal destination for people of all ages and interests. There should be information that will connect with you.