Is Fortnite better than Call of Duty?
As a gaming enthusiast and content creator, in my viewpoint Fortnite has the edge over Call of Duty in core elements like current popularity, revenue success and future outlook. However, Call of Duty remains an unmatched FPS franchise with exceptional gameplay quality that continues to evolve.
Popularity Driven by Fortnite‘s Accessibility
Epic Game‘s free-to-play Fortnite undeniably leads in popularity and player counts. According to a March 2022 report by BusinessofApps, Fortnite hit its peak number of monthly active users in August 2020 at over 350 million globally. While that figure has dropped some, the game still drew roughly 230 million monthly players during parts of 2022.
Comparatively, Call of Duty sees significant sales upon each new annual release, but has a fraction of Fortnite‘s player base due to being a paid title. The combined series lifetime sales across all Call of Duty titles is estimated at over 400 million total units by Activision as of November 2022. While hugely successful, Call of Duty access is hampered by premium pricing.
Fortnite‘s free-to-play model allows continuous player acquisition – particularly among younger demographics with less disposable income. Data suggests the peak Fortnite age demographic is 18-24 years old. Call of Duty likely over-indexes amongst older, core gamers who grew up with early franchise entries and remain loyal fans buying each new release yearly.
In the battle for eyeballs, Fortnite also wins based on Twitch viewership over the past calendar year:
| Game | 2022 Max Viewers | 2022 Avg Viewers |
|---|---|---|
| Fortnite | 1.1M | 220K |
| Call of Duty: Warzone | 66K | 19K |
Cultural relevancy and casual play helps Fortnite dominate popularity related metrics for now. However, Call of Duty remains a pillar franchise.
Strong Revenues Fuel Both Franchises
Fortnite‘s free access model is powered by in-game cosmetic purchases, with the average player spending around $85 based on industry data estimates. Top Fortnite players have spent over $10,000 outfitting in-game characters.
Comparatively, Call of Duty generates revenue mainly from upfront $60 game purchases and additional content like map packs. Actual player spending data is undisclosed.
Both monetization models have proven hugely successful:
Epic Games reported roughly $5.1 billion in Fortnite earnings during 2018 and 2019. 2020 and 2021 revenue figures remain private as Epic Games is a private company, but 2021 estimates projected over $2 billion annually.
Call of Duty reportedly generated over $3 billion in 2020 unit sales alone according to a report by Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad. The 2022 launch of Modern Warfare 2 also delivered over $1 billion in sales during its opening weekend alone, setting franchise records.
Both Fortnite and Call of Duty are delivering exponential earnings tallies for their respective publishers, allowing massive investments into future development and continued evolution.
In terms of longevity, Call of Duty‘s premium pricing model does leave it more susceptible to player churn over time verses the always free-to-play Fortnite. But Call of Duty has already demonstrated nearly two decades of popularity, suggesting it will remain a core franchise for the foreseeable future.
Gameplay Reflects Personal Preference
The enjoyability debate of Fortnite verses Call of Duty is subjective based on a gamer‘s personal preferences. As explored previously, Fortnite delivers a colorful, creative building-focused battle royale experience. Call of Duty emphasizes lifelike visuals and weapon handling with fast-paced competitive multiplayer at its core.
Among FPS fans, Call of Duty is routinely praised for its slick gunplay mechanics and immersive production values. But some criticize a lack of innovation between titles compared to other shooter franchises like Battlefield or Rainbow Six.
By comparison, the building mechanics and unexpected items like the infamous Infinity Blade set Fortnite apart. Others critique its casual catering or RNG factors. Ultimately fun factor is subjective.
Both titles are enormously popular, which suggests strong enjoyability and replay value with their respective gameplay approaches. Furthermore, the communities and competitive scenes surrounding each franchise indicate engaged, enthusiastic fans.
Competitive Scenes Showcase Distinct Skills
The competitive spaces for both Fortnite and Call of Duty also showcase drastically different skill sets. Fortnite Esports events award players for creative building strategy, quick editing techniques and the ability to out-maneuver opponents. Call of Duty League tournament success requires top-notch handling of first-person shooting weapons and combat tactics.
Epic Games invests heavily into Fortnite competitions. The Fortnite World Cup drew 2.3 million live viewers in 2019 with over $30 million in prizes awarded. The 2022 Championship Series doled out another nearly $4 million across regional events.
Activision‘s Call of Duty League also offers millions in prizes. The 2022 season drove roughly 95 million hours watched on YouTube and Twitch. Viewership declined some likely due to a the lack of a new premium title release.
Both competitive scenes indicate large, enthusiastic player bases willing to watch professional content. Fortnite esports may have an edge given Epic‘s huge prize pools and penschant for in-game events like virtual concerts. However, Call of Duty League continues to be a juggernaut FPS esport in its own right.
Evolution Shows Commitment to Core Fanbases
Epic Games and Activision Blizzard continue evolving Fortnite and Call of Duty based on player feedback and industry trends. This suggests both remain highly relevant despite years on the market.
Fortnite‘s seasonal model and live events like meteor crashes or map flooding keep gameplay novel for continued enjoyment. Social features like custom lobbies and the recent "Zero Build" mode cater to core preferences. Collaboration Content bringing iconic IPs likes Naruto, Dragonball and even real-world celebrities into the Fortnite universe also maintains cultural buzz.
Call of Duty‘s premium releases continue delivering enhancements. 2022‘s Modern Warfare 2 impressed many reviewers with excellently polished gameplay. Warzone 2.0 improved the franchise‘s free-to-play battle royale offering with quality of life changes. Developer Infinity Ward‘s commitment to post-launch support addresses issues from overpowered weapons to bugs quickly.
Both publishers are keeping their respective fanbases satisfied based on continual technological and content improvements paired with community feedback integration over time.
In conclusion, Fortnite maintains an advantage over Call of Duty in current popularity metrics and future outlook. But Call of Duty continues being one of gaming‘s most polished, highest quality FPS experiences drawing millions in daily active players. Comparing the two powerhouses directly is complicated – each succeeds in different ways driven by distinct creative visions. For most gaming enthusiasts, playing both Fortnite and Call of Duty tends to be the best solution!
