Which battle royale game influenced Epic to create Fortnite Battle Royale?

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds influenced Epic Games to create Fortnite Battle Royale. PUBG had become a major worldwide success after entering early access in March 2017, demonstrating the commercial power of the battle royale format.

Epic adapted the idea to Fortnite, which originally centered on cooperative survival, construction, and fighting monsters. Rather than make a separate game, Epic built the new mode on Fortnite's existing technology and assets. Development took roughly two months after Save the World launched in early access.

Fortnite Battle Royale was not simply a copy of PUBG. Its defining differences included cartoon-like presentation, building structures, a distinct shrinking storm, and faster matches. The building system became especially important because it gave Fortnite a strategic identity beyond scavenging and shooting.

A common mix-up is H1Z1, another earlier battle royale title. H1Z1 helped popularize the genre, but PUBG is the specific game most directly associated with Epic's decision to develop Fortnite's battle royale mode.