[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.91″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” next_background_color=”#000000″][et_pb_row custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Top Image” _builder_version=”3.10″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/fortnite-new.jpg” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding=”2px|0px|8px|0px” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Top Image caption” _builder_version=”3.10″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_font_size=”12px” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.92″ custom_padding=”2px|0px|37.9062px|0px” prev_background_color=”#000000″ next_background_color=”#000000″][et_pb_row custom_padding=”0px|0px|18.9531px|0px” custom_margin=”10px|||” _builder_version=”3.0.92″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image 1″ show_in_lightbox=”on” show_bottom_space=”off” _builder_version=”3.10″ custom_margin=”||2px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_style=”slide” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”4px” box_shadow_vertical=”4px” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/gray-fortnite-new.jpg” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption 1″ _builder_version=”3.10″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”8px|||2px” custom_padding=”|||” background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n
Lexington, SC local Gray Griffin plays Fortnite every day in hopes of competing on a professional level<\/p>\n
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TA Whitlock plays Fortnite for money by competing with other players online.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”News Story” _builder_version=”3.10″ custom_margin=”0px||0px|”]<\/p>\n
Fortnite \u2013 the widely popular video game \u2013 recently celebrated its one-year birthday, and the free-to-play experience has become the most financially successful free game on consoles of all time.<\/p>\n
The game has a net worth of more than $8.5 billion, according to Forbes magazine. It generates\u00a0around $2 million a day and has over 125 million players.<\/p>\n
Fortnite Battle Royale\u00a0features up to 100 players who compete alone, in pairs, or groups up to four. The players\u2019 goal is to be the last individual or group \u201calive\u201d by eliminating other players though numerous battle tactics or evading them. Throughout the game, players seek to remain inside a safe zone called \u201cthe storm\u201d that is constantly shrinking.<\/p>\n
The game, which made over $314 million in May, utilizes a system of in-game purchases in which players can exchange real money for Fortnite currency called \u201cV-Bucks.\u201d Players can then use the currency to acquire characters outfits called \u201cskins.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fortnite\u2019s creators, Epic Games, are not the only ones seeing extreme profits.<\/p>\n
Professional gamers like Tyler \u201cNinja\u201d Blevins have become profitable from streaming their gameplay on Twitch, a\u00a0live streaming\u00a0video\u00a0platform owned by Twitch Interactive, a subsidiary of Amazon. Blevins has become synonymous with Fortnite among followers of the game and makes more $500,000 per month streaming Fortnite.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I offer high-tier gameplay. I\u2019m very goofy. I do impressions, and just crazy shenanigans,\u201d Blevens told CNBC. \u201cThe combination of that \u2013 it\u2019s a hybrid. It\u2019s just really fun to watch and pretty positive environment as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Closer to home, Lexington residents Gray Griffin and TA Whitlock are also hoping to profit from the popular game.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo go full pro would be a dream\u201d Griffin said. \u201cI make a few bucks here and there, but Ninja makes like $500,000 a month.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whitlock profits from a system known as \u201cwagers,\u201d which gamers use to bet real money on games.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve made around $900 from wagers,\u201d Whitlock said, he says he does this on his free time to get extra money to pay bills.<\/p>\n