Fortnite, once the undisputed king of battle royale gaming, is facing its most significant player retention challenge in recent years. Despite launching an ambitious Star Wars collaboration event in May 2025, the game’s average daily player count has plummeted to its lowest point since 2023, raising questions about the franchise’s ability to maintain its massive global audience.
According to data from Fortnite.gg, the game’s average daily player count over the past 30 days dropped to 994,711 players, marking the first time in two years that numbers have fallen below the crucial one million threshold. This represents a dramatic decline from the game’s peak performance in late 2024, when average player counts reached 2.1 million in December before beginning a steady month-over-month decline.
The timing of this downturn is particularly striking given Epic Games’ significant investment in the “Galactic Battle” mini-season, which launched on May 2, 2025. The Star Wars collaboration introduced themed content, including lightsabers, blasters, Force powers, and iconic characters like Darth Vader as a fully voiced AI NPC. The event culminated in the “Death Star Sabotage” finale on June 7, yet failed to reverse the declining trend that has persisted since the beginning of 2025.
This player count crisis occurs against the backdrop of Disney’s $1.5 billion investment in Epic Games, announced in early 2024, which was positioned as a strategic initiative to build a persistent Disney-branded digital universe within Fortnite. The current decline during a major Star Wars event may signal broader challenges for both franchises in maintaining their gaming audience appeal.
The Star Wars Event That Couldn’t Save Fortnite
Fortnite Death Star Event (Image via Getty)The “Galactic Battle” mini-season represented one of Fortnite’s most comprehensive franchise collaborations to date. Epic Games completely revamped the game’s loot pool, replacing traditional weapons with Star Wars-themed alternatives, including blasters, lightsabers, and Force abilities. Players could engage with iconic characters, with Darth Vader serving as a recruitable NPC capable of full conversations through AI technology.
However, the Star Wars integration sparked controversy beyond player engagement issues. The fully voiced AI Darth Vader led to legal challenges, with SAG-AFTRA filing suit against Fortnite over potential violations of agreements regarding AI usage in entertainment. This controversy may have overshadowed the positive aspects of the collaboration for some players.
Despite featuring premium content like X-Wings, TIE Fighters, and special in-game premieres of Disney+ content, the Star Wars event failed to generate the sustained player engagement Epic Games likely anticipated. The collaboration’s inability to boost numbers suggests that franchise partnerships alone may no longer be sufficient to drive Fortnite’s growth.
Underlying Issues Beyond Collaboration Fatigue
The current player decline extends beyond the Star Wars event’s reception, reflecting deeper structural issues within Fortnite’s gameplay experience. Chapter 5 Season 3, titled “Wrecked,” introduced vehicle-focused mechanics, Nitro boosts, and medallion systems that have received mixed reactions from the community.
A significant concern among longtime players involves the increased presence of AI bots in matches. Reports suggest that lobbies now contain up to 92 bots in 100-player games, leading many players to feel that victories lack meaning when competing primarily against artificial opponents rather than human players. This bot saturation has fundamentally altered the competitive experience that originally attracted millions to the platform.
Additionally, Epic Games’ 2024 staff reduction of approximately 16% has reportedly impacted update frequency and content quality, contributing to player dissatisfaction. The reduced development pace may be limiting Epic’s ability to respond quickly to community feedback and maintain the rapid content evolution that previously kept players engaged.
Esports Resilience Amid Casual Player Decline
While casual player numbers have declined significantly, Fortnite’s competitive esports ecosystem continues demonstrating remarkable resilience. The 2025 FNCS Pro-Am tournament recorded over 600,000 peak viewers, indicating that dedicated competitive audiences remain highly engaged with the platform.
Fortnite’s open competitive system, which allows all players to participate in tournaments and potentially compete at the highest levels, continues attracting aspiring professional players despite the player count decline. This suggests that while casual engagement may be waning, the game’s competitive infrastructure maintains its appeal for serious players and spectators.
The sustained esports viewership numbers provide Epic Games with a foundation for maintaining Fortnite’s relevance in the gaming ecosystem, even as broader player engagement faces challenges.
