Tencent launches ‘Fortnite’ in China

Gamers across China are celebrating the hotly anticipated arrival of the hugely popular battle royale title Fortnite, which officially launched in the country on Monday courtesy of a partnership between its US developer Epic Games and Tencent, the Chinese giant which runs the word’s largest video games business by revenue.

Epic released the mobile app in other markets just over a month ago, reportedly pulling in over US$1 million in its first 72 hours, and grossing more than US$25 million in the first 30 days on sale.

Shenzhen-based Tencent holds a 40 per cent stake in Epic and as China’s largest games publisher it will handle Fortnite’s distribution and publishing in the domestic market.

Dai Bin, deputy manager for marketing at Tencent’s Interactive Entertainment Group, said it planned to spend over 100 million yuan (US$15.85 million) on its marketing and supporting ecosystems, adding the games leader will also make huge efforts to ensure the blockbuster title is not widely copied or illegally distributed.

Epic, which is based in Cary, North Carolina, has claimed Fortnite already has more than 45 million players, and is fast becoming a red hot gaming phenomenon.

The “battle royale” games genre takes its name from the 2000 Japanese film of the same name, and follows the format of a right to the death by 100 players at a time, as their “safe play” zone shrinks in size, with the “last-man-standing” taking the plaudits. Players search for weapons and armour in their quest to eliminate opponents.