Epic’s kicking off plans for competitive Fortnite just as we’d hoped – with a whole lot of money. The company’s substantial esports investment starts this weekend, with the eight-week Summer Skirmish series set to award a combined $8 million in prize money.
Participants in the series will include “community creators and Fortnite players who have demonstrated their competitive prowess,” and the first wave of invites have already been sent out. It begins this weekend with a $250,000 duos competition, but Epic has yet to offer more details on the format or what to expect from later stages of the series. Both competitors and format are subject to change from week to week.
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Plans for Fortnite esports were first announced back in May, with Epic promising a $100,000,000 investment in the game for 2018-2019 season. At the time, the company said its esports approach would be different as “we plan to be more inclusive, and focused on the joy of playing and watching the game.”
With the Summer Skirmish series beginning soon – just after the Fortnite season 5 release date – we’ll soon have a clearer idea of what to expect.
It’s a pricey way to kick off competition, but given Fortnite’s total revenue Epic can probably handle the cost. If you’re looking to bone up on your skills in hopes of a future invitation, check out our tips above. They’re (not actually) guaranteed to bring you esports riches.