Fortnite continues to bask in the limelight.
Despite being a free-to-play game, the popular title generated the most annual revenue of any game in history. In 2018 alone, it brought in a whopping $2.4 billion, according to estimates from Nielsen’s SuperData.
According to Nielsen, the title’s success was propelled by the game’s multi-platform release on PC, console, and mobile, as well Epic Games’ effort to provide new game updates, modes, weapons, and environments. Battle pass, a limited-time, in-game purchase that rewards players as they complete challenges, also contributed.
“Games like Dota 2 have sold battle passes in the past, but Fortnite made them a core part of its monetization strategy, with 34% of U.S. Fortnite players buying them regularly,” SuperData noted in its game industry report.
Free-to-play games are undoubtedly on the rise. In 2018, they accounted for 80 percent of all digital game revenue, which reached $87.7 billion this past year. A demand for “premium” games still strongly exists in both North America and Europe, but publishers are moving away from physical discs in favor of digital downloads.
Here’s a look at the top 10 free-to-play titles, based on overall game revenue:
Photo: Epic Games
