Epic Games made serious bank this year.
Knowledgeable sources told TeleTech that the video game and software development company grossed $3 billion in profit for 2018—a jaw-dropping gain that was undoubtedly driven by the Fortnite series. The news arrives just months after Epic Games was valued at around $15 billion following a funding round led by private equity firm KKR.
Fortnite's popularity has skyrocketed over the past year, amassing more than 200 million registered users. Though the battle royale game is free to play, it has generated an estimated $1 billion through V-Bucks, an in-game currency that can purchase Battle Passes, cosmetic upgrades, and consumables. Fortnite has also made its way on big-name platforms, such as PlayStation, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Android, and iOS; Super Data Research reports that the game earned $318 million in May across all platforms.
"To put it in context," lead systems designer Eric Williamson told Eurogamer, "some of the folk around the office are saying hey, we could be the biggest Battle Royale game in the western world, which is crazy. Some people are saying we could be the biggest and best-played game [full stop] in the western world."
Fortnite isn't Epic Games' only money-maker, though. The company also racks in cash with its Unreal Engine and Gears of War, as well as the newly launched Epic Games Store.
Epic Games—which boasts investors such as Tencent, Disney and Endeavor—did not respond to Teletech's request for comment. The company has not gone public and is known to be tight-lipped about its financial data.
