Is "Fortnite" About to Take the Crown from "PUBG" as the Best Battle Royale Game?

PUBG's reign might finally be over.

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) had a pretty great run last year. It was the most popular game on the Steam platform, clocking in at nearly three million players concurrently and winning a spate of top gaming awards.

This was pretty impressive given the game wasn't actually fully released until December last year, with many playing the beta version (sort of like an unfinished game) for the entirety of 2017.

The secret to its success? It was one of the first (mostly) functional battle royale games. If you're unfamiliar with the genre, picture this:

You, the player, are dropped into a map that is, roughly, eight-by-eight kilometres with 99 other players holding no items. Your goal? Scavenge weapons, ammo and armour and out-survive everyone else by eliminating them first.

It's sweaty-palm material, for sure.

But now, there's a new kid on the block. Fortnite Battle Royale was released in September last year and has been slowly gaining on PUBG with estimates suggesting they already have approximately the same amount of players.

It's described as a cartoony version of PUBG but it's the differences that set it apart. Kotaku describes Fortnite Battle Royale as more addictive and, importantly, more fun. 

It revels in its ability to respond to holiday seasons and special maps due to its cartoonish nature. It also mixes the playfulness of Team Fortress 2 with the anxiety of PUBG.

And just like its competition before it, people are legitimately obsessed.

It's going to be a fierce battle regardless of the outcome.

Photo: YouTube (Fortnite)