Fortnite is a cultural phenomenon. Since its launch in 2017, the free-to-play battle royale game has taken the gaming world by storm, attracting millions of players globally and earning billions in revenue. What started as a fun, casual shooter quickly became a dominant force in gaming culture, blending intense action, strategy, social interaction, and creativity.
The game’s massive popularity has revolutionized the gaming landscape and influenced various aspects of entertainment, from music to fashion and even real-world activities like laser tag. If you’re wondering how laser tag could be played in a way that captures the excitement and energy of Fortnite, you’re in the right place. In this blog, we’ll dive into the rise of Fortnite and explore how laser tag can adopt similar concepts to make the game even more engaging, competitive, and immersive.
The Rise of Fortnite: A Cultural Revolution
1. Battle Royale Format
Fortnite’s battle royale mode — where 100 players drop onto an island, fight to the death, and the last player standing wins — became an instant hit. The game introduced a fast-paced, high-stakes experience that was easy to jump into but offered plenty of room for skill and strategy to make the difference.
The game’s dynamic environment, constant updates (including limited-time modes and seasonal events), and ever-expanding world kept players engaged and coming back for more. The addition of building mechanics, where players can construct structures to defend themselves or gain higher ground, created a unique twist on the traditional shooter.
2. Social Interaction
Beyond the gameplay itself, Fortnite excelled at social interaction. The game became a place to hang out, chat, and team up with friends or strangers. The ability to communicate via voice chat, form teams, and compete together created a sense of community. Events like in-game concerts and limited-time challenges further cemented Fortnite’s place as a cultural hub.
3. Customization and Skins
Another key element that contributed to Fortnite’s success was the cosmetic items — particularly the wide variety of skins, dances, and emotes. The game’s virtual marketplace allowed players to express their individuality, making every match feel unique. The introduction of limited-time skins and exclusive content kept the game fresh and encouraged players to invest in their in-game persona.
How Laser Tag Can Be Played Like Fortnite
With Fortnite’s blend of action, strategy, and community building, it’s no surprise that many people have wondered how laser tag could adopt a similar experience. As a sport rooted in action, teamwork, and strategy, laser tag is uniquely positioned to benefit from some of the features that made Fortnite so popular. Here’s how laser tag can be played in a Fortnite-inspired way:
1. Battle Royale Mode for Laser Tag
Imagine a laser tag game that mimics the battle royale format that Fortnite popularized. In this version, instead of 100 players on an island, you could have 10 to 20 players in a large indoor or outdoor arena. The game could start with all players scattered around the arena, with their goal being to eliminate everyone else. The last person or team standing wins.
To add the Fortnite flavor, you could introduce shrinking zones where the arena’s play area gradually becomes smaller, forcing players into more intense and fast-paced engagements as the game progresses. This would keep everyone on their toes and ensure that players aren’t hiding in corners for too long.
2. Dynamic Arenas and Ever-Changing Environments
Fortnite thrives on its ever-evolving map, and laser tag can adopt a similar dynamic approach. By changing the layout of your arena regularly, players will never know exactly what to expect, keeping the experience fresh and exciting.
- Moving Obstacles: Introduce inflatable or movable obstacles that can be shifted during a game. This will mimic Fortnite’s constantly changing terrain, where players must constantly adapt to new conditions.
- Special Zones: Create zones in the arena that give players unique advantages or challenges. For example, a high ground area that players can control (like Fortnite’s building mechanic) or a low-ground zone with limited visibility. This encourages strategic thinking and tactical play.
- Time-limited Events: In the same way Fortnite keeps players engaged with special events, laser tag arenas could host time-limited challenges, where players must complete objectives (e.g., capturing points, collecting items, or completing puzzles) within a set amount of time.
3. Customization and Personalization
One of the most engaging aspects of Fortnite is the ability to customize your character, whether through skins, dances, or emotes. Laser tag could adopt a similar philosophy by offering a range of customizable gear and personalized gameplay experiences.
- Custom Blasters: Allow players to choose different blaster designs, colors, or even upgrade their equipment as the game progresses. This could involve cosmetic changes (like the Fortnite skins) or functional upgrades (such as increased range or fire rate after certain achievements in-game).
- Themed Gear and Costumes: Provide themed outfits and gear based on seasonal events, popular trends, or in-game events. This would let players express themselves in the same way Fortnite fans enjoy showing off their skins and emotes.
- Emotes and Celebrations: After a successful round or key action (such as eliminating an opponent), players could be given the opportunity to perform celebratory moves or emotes. This adds an extra layer of fun and social interaction to the game, just like Fortnite’s dances.
4. Team-Based Game Modes
Fortnite’s ability to form teams — whether in duos or squads — is one of the reasons it has such broad appeal. Laser tag can adopt a similar structure with team-based modes, where players are grouped into squads, and the focus is on teamwork, communication, and coordination.
- Squad Play: Players could team up in squads of 3-4, with each squad working together to eliminate rival teams. This adds an element of strategy, as players can communicate to plan attacks, defend points, or perform coordinated ambushes.
- Objective-Based Play: Incorporate specific objectives that align with Fortnite’s goal-oriented gameplay. For example, teams could have to capture and hold objectives, escort VIP players, or defend key areas while simultaneously fending off opposing squads.
5. Incorporating “Loot” and Power-Ups
Fortnite’s loot system is central to its gameplay — players must find and manage weapons and resources as they progress through the game. A similar concept could work in laser tag arenas by incorporating power-ups and loot drops.
- Power-Up Stations: Set up specific areas where players can pick up temporary boosts — such as increased fire rate, invincibility for a short period, or extra health. These items could be found at designated points in the arena or drop randomly during the game.
- Weapon Upgrades: Just like Fortnite’s evolving weapons, laser tag could feature different blasters or upgrades that players can unlock during the game. For instance, you could start with a standard blaster and pick up a more powerful one as the match progresses, rewarding skilled players or teams.
6. Live Events and Collaborations
Fortnite regularly holds live events, including concerts, in-game crossovers with movies, and exclusive challenges. A laser tag arena could embrace similar live events to boost excitement and draw in players.
- Seasonal Events: Host seasonal tournaments, limited-time modes, or even special events that involve new rules, limited-time arenas, or unique challenges. For example, a Halloween event with themed obstacles and power-ups, or a Christmas event with special costumes and items.
- Collaborations and Themes: Similar to Fortnite’s collaborations with popular franchises, laser tag could feature themed events based on movies, TV shows, or pop culture. Imagine a “Star Wars”-themed laser tag event with themed obstacles, costumes, and power-ups.
Conclusion: Fortnite’s Influence on the Future of Laser Tag
Fortnite has reshaped the way we think about multiplayer gaming, mixing fast-paced action, strategy, and social interaction into an experience that transcends the digital world. By borrowing elements from Fortnite — such as battle royale-style gameplay, dynamic arenas, customizable gear, and team-based strategies — laser tag can evolve into an even more exciting and immersive activity.
As the lines between digital and physical entertainment continue to blur, laser tag has the potential to become a hybrid experience, blending real-world action with the excitement and customization of video games. Whether you’re hosting an event, setting up a local arena, or just looking for new ways to play, the Fortnite-inspired future of laser tag is ready for the taking.
Are you ready to bring Fortnite-style excitement to the laser tag arena? Let us know how you’d integrate these features into your next game!
