Fortnite Esports Gear: A Gamer’s Guide
Achieving greatness in Fortnite isn't all about quick reflexes and smart tactics. It's just as much about researching and gearing up with the right equipment to take your gameplay to the next level.
In the first article of our series, we take a closer look at the initial gaming setups of pro players Benjy "benjyfishy" Fish and Martin "MrSavage" Foss Andersen. We also explore the range of platforms that make Fortnite the vibrant game it is today.
Building on the 'Equipment' chapter from 'Build It Like benjyfishy & MrSavage,' a book I co-authored with Anne Fish, Benjy's mom, we share key advice on setting up for competitive play. This series is designed to give both up-and-coming players and their parents all the insights needed to assemble their gaming station.
Image created with the assistance of DALL·E.
PART 1 - STARTING STRONG
BENJY AND MARTIN'S DEVICES
Benjy and Martin had played games for fun on numerous devices before their breakthrough.
Johnny: ‘My son Martin used to bring his Nintendo DS everywhere he went so he could play it on the go. While at home, he would play on his Nintendo Wii and various generations of PlayStation until he was introduced to Minecraft, which he played on a PC.’
Martin, back in 2013 – eight years old – playing Minecraft on an old computer. The monitor reads, “You have won this match!”. Photo credit Johnny Troset Andersen.
Anne: ‘Benjy has a very similar background to Martin, but in addition, he did have a try on the Xbox and Nintendo 64 consoles.’
Johnny: ‘Martin’s first gaming PC was a local Norwegian brand, Komplett, with an Intel i7-8700K CPU, 16 GB RAM, and a 256 GB SSD on top of an ASUS TUF Z370-Plus motherboard and with an ASUS GeForce GTX 1080 TURBO graphic card.’
““My best investment was my first gaming PC. It wasn’t really my money but my dad’s. I paid for half of it, and the energy that I put into Fortnite and the time I think, obviously that paid out very well. My brother has a big role when it comes to my Fortnite career. He introduced me to the game, so without him I maybe wouldn’t have even started playing the game.”
Anne: ‘Benjy’s first gaming PC was a Dell Alienware Aurora R5 with Intel i5-6400, 8GB RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 graphic card.’
“My brother introduced me to gaming. The first games I played were on the PS2, PS3, like Guitar Hero. I have been playing games since I was about five.”
Benjy and Martin during Friday Fortnite at CLD Solutions, 1st June 2019 - which they won! You can watch all the action in these videos: MrSavage vs Ninja in Friday Fortnite and Went to London to visit Benjy. Photo credit benjyfishy
Fortnite Across Platforms: Bridging Devices and Communities
Fortnite's massive popularity comes from being accessible on almost any gaming device you can think of. Whether you’re playing on a smartphone, an Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, or a personal computer with Windows or macOS, Fortnite has you covered. Although currently unavailable on Apple's iOS devices like iPhones and iPads, the game's ability to let you jump in and play from nearly any device has made it a common favorite among gamers everywhere.
This cross-platform compatibility is more than just a technical feat; it's a social bridge. Friends, regardless of their preferred devices, can squad up and dive into the game together, fostering a sense of community and connection. This inclusive approach has contributed significantly to Fortnite's skyrocketing popularity.
The year 2020, shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, became a landmark year for Fortnite’s competitive scene, with an increase in tournament participation globally as the game became a social haven for many. This rise in competitive engagement also demonstrated Fortnite's flexibility in catering to different devices, ensuring that whether players favored the ease of consoles or the customizability of PCs, they could still access an optimal gaming experience.
Despite this, the competitive landscape isn't entirely level. There are inherent disparities in the playability and performance of Fortnite across different devices. Some tournaments address this by maintaining separate leaderboards for each platform, ensuring fair competition. Others opt for a unified leaderboard, embracing the game's cross-platform ethos.
For Benjy and Martin, Windows PCs are the preferred choice. The power and flexibility of a PC provide a competitive edge, where details down to the frame and pixel count. While this decision was once a reflection of their shared commitment to Fortnite, Benjy has since shifted his competitive focus to Valorant, applying the same dedication to excellence in a new arena. Martin continues his quest in Fortnite.
Martin at his studio in 2020. Photo credit Johnny Troset Andersen.
Next part
As we delve further into the world of Fortnite esports gear, it's clear that the platform is more than just a stage for the game; it's a foundational choice that shapes a player's journey. The next article in this series, "Crafting the Battle Station," will focus on monitors and headsets — the sensory extensions of a player into the virtual battlegrounds of Fortnite. Stay tuned as we explore how these tools can refine your gameplay and potentially turn the tide in your favor.
