Fortnite managed to finish 2018 with a bang, reporting record revenue in December during a lengthy Season 7.
But now with Epic Games gearing up for the Season 8 start date, there have been new reports shared regarding Fortnite revenue in 2019.
According to Super Data, Fortnite witnessed a hefty 48& drop in revenue for January.
“Fortnite dips month-over-month after a strong end to the year,” the report from Super Data confirms.
“Fortnite revenue on all platforms combined declined 48% month-over-month in January, although sales are still up significantly year-over-year.
“This comes after a peak month in December and points to an increasingly lumpy revenue profile heading into 2019.”
It’s currently unclear what caused this dip in performance and how Epic Games can help avoid it again in the months to come.
They weren’t the only ones to see a dip in January, with a big digital drop in spending found on multi platforms.
“Worldwide digital game spending declined on Console, PC and Mobile in January,” the Super Data report adds.
“Consumers spent $8.4 billion on digital games across all platforms in January, down 6% year-over-year.
“Premium PC had the biggest drop off of any platform with a 29% decline. Meanwhile, console revenue also decreased by 3% even including a favourable comparison from Fortnite due to tepid performance from top Premium Console franchises such as Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, FIFA and Overwatch.”
One move Epic has made is by making it possible for Fortnite fans to unlock a free Season Battle Pass.
This seems like a sure way to witness a massive dip in Revenue for February but it might also re-enegage players too.
The start of a new season always sees a rise in interest, especially when it comes to new skins.
So if more players are on board so that they can unlock new Battle Pass skins, they may also head over to the Fortnite item Shop.
A new theme for Season 8 will mean fresh skins and unique outfits to pick up in the weeks to come.
So if Epic does manage to boost the concurrent userbase they currently have, it could help buck the trends seen in January.
Fortnite Season 8 will also be the first switch over to include new rival, Apex Legends.
Respawn Entertainment launched their free-to-play game in early February, meaning it wouldn’t have affected Fornite’s January revenues.
But with Apex Legends gearing up to launch its own season pass in March, things could get interesting in the future.
Meanwhile, Fortnite Season 8 will start on February 28, meaning that it will already be ticking over by the time Apex ramps into gear.
We’re starting to learn more about the upcoming season through new teasers, with a tropical theme expected to be announced later this week.