Before Fortnite, games were games. After Fortnite, they were global cultural events. Suddenly kids were flossing in their kitchens, and brands were angling for Battle Royale cameos. Epic Games built that stage, starting with Unreal Engine, which gave creators the tools to design in real time and later powered Hollywood blockbusters like The Mandalorian. Then came Fortnite, where concerts, campaigns, and collaborations became shared rituals from Marshmello’s 10-million–player concert to Webby-recognized experiences with Warner Records, the BBC, R/GA, Verizon, Samsung, and more. Significantly, Epic has used its clout to drive industry-wide change. It redefined multiplayer by demanding cross-play, connecting players across rival consoles, and fought numerous companies over mobile distribution, winning remedies that changed how app stores operate. With Unreal Editor for Fortnite, it turned the game into a creator economy where anyone could publish an island and get paid when people play. Epic made games into Internet culture and Internet culture into games, and nothing’s been the same since.

NOTABLE WORK

Fortnite (2019)

Alan Wake 2 (2024)

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