5 ways Fortnite keeps you interested in playing the game every season

Fortnite has been around since late 2017, yet the number of active players has exponentially grown over the years. Even after iOS players were snubbed and over 100 million lost access to the game, it's still as popular as ever.

With that said, one has to wonder how Fortnite has retained its playerbase, with fans returning to the game season after season. While its free-to-play status can be attributed as the primary reason, it's far from the truth in many ways.

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Exclusive Battle Pass collaborations and four ways in which Fortnite entertains players

1) Rotating loot pool

Every season, the in-game loot pool changes slightly. New items/weapons get added, while a few older ones are vaulted. At times, 'OG' items/weapons also get unvaulted. While this is a minor change, the community is always excited to see what is vaulted and unvaulted.

Players who have been around since the early days but don't play that often tend to return to the game when certain items/weapons are re-introduced to the loot pool. With the developers adding a few radical items/weapons to the game since the start of Chapter 3, there's always something new.

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2) Storyline progression

While most gamers see Fortnite as a battle royale game, there's more than meets the eye. Few know that there's been an ongoing storyline since the early days. While it has evolved and changed over time, the events in the storyline shape the gameplay.

Players following these developments have been hooked to the game, eagerly awaiting the story to process each season. While it can be said that not every season advances the storyline, there is some buildup in the grand scheme of things.

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3) Time-limited/exclusive Battle Pass collaborations

Fortnite's Battle Pass never fails to impress or, at the very least, stands out from its competitors. Every season, a brand new Battle Pass is added to the game, offering players the chance to obtain dozens of cosmetics in exchange for 950 V-Bucks.

In addition to the original skins and other cosmetics, Epic Games often places skins of important and/or popular characters from other storylines/franchises in its Battle Pass. Given how iconic they are, players have become hellbent on obtaining them in-game.

For the last few seasons in a row, the developers have been adding A-list characters to the Battle Pass. Chapter 3 Season 1 featured The Foundation (leader of The Seven), while Indiana Jones and Darth Vader were featured in Chapter 3 Season 3. The current season's Battle Pass features Doom Slayer and Geralt of Rivia.

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4) New mechanics and features

Fortnite has evolved over the years to become more dynamic. The developers have strived to add all the bells and whistles one seeks in a battle royale game. A good example of a new feature is Reality Augments, added at the start of Chapter 4. It allows players to select up to four 'perks' in every match.

In Chapter 3, three new mechanics (Sliding, Sprinting, and Mantling) were added to the game. Each mechanic has a sub-function and prerequisite to use in a match. This dynamic overlay grows every season and allows players to play the game as they see fit. The latest mechanic added is Hurdling, but it is disabled for the time being.

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5) Fear of missing out (FOMO)

One of the most effective ways in which the developers keep players glued to Fortnite is through FOMO or the fear of missing out. While the aforementioned points may not make for a strong case, when combined with the fact that everything is time-limited, the dynamics shift in Epic Games' favor.

Those who have invested time and V-Bucks in-game will likely avoid skipping seasons. This is evident as 'OG' players from Chapter 1 can still be seen playing the game five years after its launch. While not everyone will agree that this tactic works, it seems to have been effective thus far.