Building has always been one of Fortnite’s central game mechanics. However, this is omitted in the “Zero Build” mode. In the meantime, both variants of Epic Games’ Battle Royals run in parallel and enjoy great popularity. Reason enough for us to take stock in kicker eSport Talk. What is the appeal of the new game principle in Fortnite? How is eSport changing? And is the game becoming more accessible for casuals?

For host Christian Gürnth takes Fortnite “down an exciting path” that has potential: “It’s a super smart move. There are more vehicles, tanks, and a lot more mobility options.” Games podcaster Kevin Blume perceives an approximation of old familiar competitors through “this classic shooter feel.”

Barriers to entry fall

This would have made it easier for Blume, a Battlefield veteran, to get started. A decisive difference to competitors like Call of Duty or Battlefield lies for him in the sense of the game. Despite all his ambition, Fortnite isn’t just about winning, even as a competitive player: “There’s still so much small stuff I can do on the side that invites me to play a little more casually;

While for casual players the barrier to entry is lowered and new players are added, the eSports scene is likely to change due to the new mode according to Max ‘Eggo’ Eickhoff change just as significantly. The manager of the Fortnite Academy of the Austrian organization “Wave” has found through his contacts with professional players that “not building has not yet arrived at all as an eSport among eSport players.” In addition, “completely new people have touched the game and started in the first place because of the change.”

In fact, there have been no major tournaments in the new discipline yet. For the first time, one will take place at DreamHack in early June. There will be two Fortnite tournaments there – one in each of the two game modes.

For Eickhoff, the Zero Build tournament could hold a few surprises in store: “I can imagine CS:GO or Valorant pros playing for 100,000 euros in the finals. This is a development that he has already noticed at cups held by streamer Amar ‘Amar’ Al-Naimi: “There were Valorant pros playing who were so good that they weren’t allowed to play the second time around. They started Fortnite for the first time on tournament day and came out of the round with 25 kills because they can aim.”

In addition to new players, however, spectators could also benefit in eSports. Journalist Sebastian Johanssen once followed the first Fortnite World Cup as a video editor for kicker eSport and found the experience less than uplifting as a viewer: “I’m used to watching fast-paced games and have even fewer problems with it when I actively play the games myself, but I just didn’t get anything out of Fortnite, even though I played very actively.”

Spectator-friendly eSports without building

The problem for the video game expert is primarily the lack of overview: “Walls pop up constantly, the view constantly rotates 360 degrees, I totally missed the overview.” This can’t even begin to compare with a spectator mode like the one in CS:GO. Other presentation options are also difficult for him: “Even with a flying drone, you would only see buildings going up somewhere in the finals of two players;

Without the building aspect, Fortnite-eSport would therefore be more attractive for Johanssen from a viewer’s point of view: “The images would be much quieter, because the players would have to focus much more on the opponents instead of on what they’re building.” For the 40-year-old, one thing is certain: “Then I’d be up for watching Fortnite eSport again, because I’d get what’s happening.”

A desirable development, which should confirm Epic Games in its not entirely low-risk decision. For the software entrepreneur, this could now pay off in several respects: By casuals, eSportsmen and spectators alike profit