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With 100 players parachuting on an island, fighting in a battle for survival, storytelling could easily seem out of place forFortnite. But Donald Mustard, former Chief Creative Officer at Epic Games, saw the game as more than a battle royale. So how did he pull it off?
Fortnitehas been one of the most culturally significant games of our time in the gaming industry. While it’s easy to praise the millions of players the game has and the millions of dollars the game has generated in revenue, it has stood apart not just for its gameplay but for its bold narrative ambitions.
Donald Mustard’s Vision forFortniteWas Wild, but It Succeeded
Since its launch in 2017,Fortnitehas integrated storytelling in innovative ways. Players are not just participants in a battle royale but also explorers of a world and island full of evolving lore. To Donald Mustard, having a story in a battle royale wasn’t just an afterthought, it was part of the core idea of the game.
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Despite it being an online Battle Royale, the team at Epic Games began layering subtle narrative elements into the game. Speaking toThe Vergein 2021, Mustard shared his belief that all great entertainment needed a story, even if it didn’t follow traditional formats.
That’s our guiding principle and philosophy. Fortnite has a story because all great entertainment has a good story.
Rather than having a traditional main character whose story the game and its players follow, the devs used the island as the central piece of the story. From environmental changes to catastrophic events, every transformation on the island tells a story, making the world itself the protagonist. And it’s not even at the cost of other game mechanics, Epic ison top of every part of the game.
It might not necessarily be story in the traditional character-driven, three-act structure. But the conceits, and the why of what’s going on and what’s happening, are critical for people to be emotionally attached to an entertainment experience.
From the comet that left a permanent crater to the mech-versus-monster battle that turned a skeleton into a new point of interest, these changes told a story without words. So instead of creating characters that players would have to get to know and be attached to, Epic used the part of the game that was part of every single match for every player.
Even the Collabs Became a Part of the Lore
Mustard compared his approach to telling a campfire story, where the narrative adapts to the audience’s reactions. A prime example was the comet crash in 2018. Players speculated it would destroy Tilted Towers, one of the game’s iconic locations.
That was us changing the story, or changing the experience, based on how we saw everyone reacting. And we do that a lot, as much as we can.
While this wasn’t Epic’s original plan, they incorporated player theories by adding in-game signs predicting the destruction. This interaction between the developers and the community has made it feel like a collaborative storytelling experiment. Eventhe game’s many collaborationsbecome a part of the story sometimes.
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Looking back, Mustard’s influence onFortniteis undeniable. Under his leadership, the game went from battle royale and became a platform for creative experimentation. From live events to environmental storytelling, this battle royale pushed the boundaries of what a game could be.
Looking forward, Epic is still experimenting with new storytelling methods, including live events, environmental storytelling, and cross-media projects like comic series. Mustard believes the game is a glimpse into the future of entertainment. And it just might be.
Have you followedFortnite‘s story in all these years? Let us know in the comments!
Daniel Royte
Gaming Writer
Articles Published :1370
As part of the FandomWire team, Daniel has followed the hero-shooter genre closely with a focus on titles like VALORANT, Apex Legends, and Marvel Rivals. You can also find him providing insight on the latest AAA titles from Elden Ring to GTA 6 and exploring the world of gacha games like Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves. With more than 1,000 articles under his belt, you’ll need to look no further for a unique insight into every situation.If he’s not looking for the latest video game news, you’ll find him cheering on Ferrari in the race tracks of Formula 1 or at the theatres for the latest MCU releases.
