Fortnite Battle Royale Came First, Releasing About 1.5 Years Before Apex Legends

ByJames Dorn Last Update on

As a passionate battle royale gamer and content creator, I can definitively say Fortnite Battle Royale (FNBR) predates Apex Legends by about 1 year and 5 months. While Apex Legends made big waves when it launched in 2019 and remains popular today, Fortnite kicked off the mainstream battle royale craze a good while beforehand.

Let‘s take a deeper look at the history and evolution of both game modes. As a lover of battle royale games, I‘ve been playing and creating content around FNBR and Apex since their launches. I‘ll share insights from that experience!

The Origins: How Fortnite Pioneered Battle Royale

Fortnite originally launched in July 2017 as a co-op survival/crafting gameplay focused on building forts to defend against zombie-like "husks". It wasn‘t too popular initially.

But Epic Games saw the success of 2017‘s breakout battle royale hit PlayerUnknown‘s Battlegrounds (PUBG) and pivoted. In September 2017, Epic added the 100-player Fortnite Battle Royale mode for free.

And the rest is history. Fortnite BR exploded in popularity thanks to:

  • Fun, cartoony visuals that set it apart
  • Innovative building/construction mechanics
  • Frequent updates like new seasons every 10 weeks
  • Collaborations with pop culture IPs

Fortnite became a global phenomenon beyond just gaming, with signature dances and characters that were recognizable by the mainstream public.

Some key Fortnite BR stats according to multiple sources:

  • Up to 12.3 million peak concurrent users in-game (March 2019)
  • $5.1 billion revenue from microtransactions between 2018-2022
  • Over 1 billion iOS downloads until being removed from App Store
  • 1.7+ million peak Twitch views for big events

Apex Legends Enters with a Buzz Thanks to Deep Gameplay and Respawn‘s Pedigree

With battle royale shooter firmly established in gaming culture, Fortnite‘s domination set the stage for competition.

In comes Apex Legends in February 2019, developed by Respawn Entertainment – founded by the original creators of Call of Duty.

Unlike Fortnite‘s building gimmick, Apex focused on delivering polished FPS gameplay drawing from popular hero shooters like Overwatch. I still think Apex has some of the tightest battle royale gunplay even today!

Some standout Apex Legends introductions included:

  • Hero characters called "Legends", each with unique skills/abilities
  • Smart ping communication system to mark loot/enemies for squadmates
  • Revive and respawn system to bring dead teammates back into the match
  • Jumpmaster role giving one player airborne routing control
  • Intuitive attachments/inventory management

This strong foundation allowed Apex Legends to make a big splash, gaining 50 million players by first month. However, it hasn‘t crossed over into mainstream pop culture as deeply as Fortnite.

Here are some key stats on Apex Legends‘ performance:

  • Peaked at almost 500,000 concurrent players on Steam in 2022
  • Made an estimated $2 billion total by end of 2022
  • Gets around 10-15 million hours watched every month on Twitch

So in terms of sheer commercial success and brand recognition globally, Fortnite remains substantially bigger. Credit to Epic Games for creating a true gaming icon.

Both Games Continue to Thrive Thanks to Strong Core Gameplay and Frequent Updates

As of 2023, Fortnite and Apex Legends continue to be highly popular free-to-play shooter experiences. They retain players not just due to novelty, but strong underlying gameplay foundations.

Both games evolve aggressively via seasons, new Legends/outfits, map updates, limited events and cross-promotions with popular IP like Star Wars.

As a player from day one for both titles, I‘m impressed by their staying power and consistency in rolling out fresh content. Fortnite gets more experimental with wild items and changes, while Apex take a more careful, balanced approach.

Here‘s why both titles continue to succeed despite rising competition:

Fortnite

  • Cartoony artistic style stands test of time
  • Building mechanic keeps gameplay feeling unique
  • Collabs with Marvel, DC etc. pull in new fans

Apex Legends

  • Smooth FPS gunplay unmatched by rivals
  • Legends with abilities enables emergent strategies
  • Ranked mode provides competitive ladder

With excellent post-launch support and foundations still holding strong years later, Fortnite and Apex seem poised to thrive for the long run. That‘s great news for us battle royale fanatics!

The Verdict: Fortnite BR Started the Craze, Apex Carved Its Own Lane

Summing up the answer to "what game is older apex or fortnite?", there‘s no debate – Fortnite Battle Royale came first in September 2017. Epic Games saw the success of PUBG and pivoted Fortnite to ride the battle royale momentum.

When Apex Legends launched, it benefited from the appetite for battle royale that Fortnite established. Although inspired by established hits, Apex stood out through polish, smart innovations like pinging, and the pedigree of its creators at Respawn.

Today, Fortnite remains the bigger cultural icon that transcended gaming. But Apex continues to shine as a snappy, evolving FPS battle royale thanks to Respawn‘s live service support.

Both games seems poised to thrive for the long term – which is great news for us fans! Personally I‘ll be playing both for years to come.

Let me know if you have any other questions about FNBR, Apex or the evolution of battle royale games!

James K. Dorn, a passionate gamer deeply immersed in the world of video gaming. My journey in gaming is not just about playing; it's about exploring every facet of the games I love. I am particularly fascinated by the intricate worlds of role-playing games like "The Witcher" series and "Elder Scrolls: Skyrim," where every decision shapes the story.

As a strategy game enthusiast, I spend hours devising tactics in games like "Civilization VI" and "StarCraft II," always eager to share my strategies with fellow gamers. I'm also an ardent follower of the ever-evolving landscape of indie games, finding gems like "Hollow Knight" and "Celeste" that offer unique, compelling experiences.

My content isn't just reviews; it's about deep dives into game mechanics, storytelling, and the art of game design. I love dissecting the narratives of games like "The Last of Us" and discussing the innovative gameplay of titles like "Death Stranding."

Being at the forefront of gaming news, I eagerly anticipate and share insights on upcoming releases like the next big open-world adventure or the latest in the "Final Fantasy" series. My goal is to build a community where we not only play games but also appreciate the artistry and effort behind them. Join me in this gaming journey, where every session is an adventure, and every game is a story waiting to be told.

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