Fortnite is one of the most popular games in the world and provides an immersive world for users to engage with and express themselves. In 2023, Fortnite has been releasing music creation tools within the game that present a new paradigm for music-making.
Among these tools are a beatmaker, which can be played by ‘shooting’ pads and patchwork, a set of modular tools such as drum machines and synthesizers. In order to ‘translate’ the nomenclature of the music-making world, Fortnite has found ways of simplifying the complexities of music production. For example, to help users (and developers) grasp the concept of LFOs (low-frequency oscillators), the Fortnite team developed an ‘automatic knob turner’ that is easily understood from a visual and sonic perspective.
Music-making in video games presents an important opportunity for both creator tools companies and rightsholders for several reasons. First is because of the high share of gamers among music producers (91%) as well as their propensity to make in-game purchases. MIDiA’s video game forecasts show how in-game spending is set to grow from $122.1 billion in 2022 to $176.9 billion by the end of the decade (i.e., the equivalent amount of the entire 2022 recorded music industry in retail terms).
Signature artist tools that can be performed in games, like Fortnite, or selling sounds as in-game items to use on the existing tools, are examples of opportunities to engage and commercialise music producers within games. Furthermore, the performative element of the gaming environment means music is always being made in front of an audience, enabling new methods of participation and collaboration, which could include paid opportunities to ‘pay to play’ with artists and producers within the game.