Only Up! initially launched on Steam with a simple premise: ascend a tower of random items and obstacles without falling off. While the game didn’t make a significant impact upon release, its fortunes took an unexpected turn in late June.
Thanks to popular Twitch streamers and content creators, Only Up! gained traction and began to gather momentum. Surpassing expectations, the game garnered 11,000 concurrent players and attracted approximately 82,000 viewers on Twitch, a remarkable feat for such a straightforward game.
However, the rise of Only Up! was soon overshadowed by a user-made clone developed within Fortnite. Aptly named OnlyUp Fortnite, this creation quickly became one of the most popular game modes in Fortnite, even outshining modes developed by Epic Games themselves.
The Popularity of OnlyUp Fortnite
Released in June, OnlyUp Fortnite is a user-created map constructed using Epic’s UEFN (Unreal Engine Fortnite) tools. These tools allow creators and players to design more advanced games and maps within a specialized version of the Unreal Engine tailored specifically for Fortnite. While several impressive creations have emerged using these tools, OnlyUp Fortnite stands as the most widely embraced game thus far.
With a staggering player count of approximately 83,000 at the time of writing, OnlyUp Fortnite has soared to new heights in popularity. Over the past few days, its concurrent player count has even surpassed 110,000.
To put this achievement into perspective, OnlyUp Fortnite, which closely mirrors the gameplay of the original Only Up! but incorporates Fortnite props and assets, reigns as the most popular UEFN creation within Fortnite. It has also solidified its position as one of the most sought-after modes across the entire Fortnite game, surpassing ranked modes like Zero Build and Battle Royale, as well as other official offerings.
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A comparison to Steam’s gaming landscape further highlights the triumph of OnlyUp Fortnite. If the game were available on Steam, it would currently rank as the 9th most played game, overtaking titles like Ark: Survival Evolved, War Thunder, Unturned, and Seven Days To Die. In fact, OnlyUp Fortnite boasts nearly eight times the peak concurrent players of the original Only Up! game on Steam.
Implications for Game Developers
The extraordinary success of OnlyUp Fortnite raises intriguing questions about the dynamic between indie developers and popular platforms. While the rapid cloning of a hit game in Fortnite may pose a challenge for future indie developers on Steam, as their work can be replicated in Fortnite, it presents a promising scenario for UEFN developers.
Epic Games offers a system that compensates developers based on player engagement and retention within custom maps. Considering the available data, it is reasonable to assume that the creators of OnlyUp Fortnite are poised to receive a substantial payout, potentially surpassing the earnings of the original developers on Steam.
In the ever-evolving landscape of gaming, the rise of OnlyUp Fortnite serves as a testament to the unexpected turns and opportunities that can emerge within the industry. As players continue to embrace this captivating clone, it underscores the power of user-generated content within popular gaming platforms like Fortnite.
