Motivations and ownership in Fortnite communities

Abstract

This thesis investigates user motivations for creating content that may or may not be added to the game Fortnite: Battle Royale, as well as the user's thoughts about the intellectual property of the content. The thesis also examines the relationship and communication between the Fortnite players and developers, according to the users. The sample was collected from the forum r/FortNiteBR on the social media platform Reddit, where users who were engaged in creating suggestions and concepts for the game were contacted and interviewed. The discussion and analysis distinguishes positive attitudes amongst the users in regards to the empowerment and engagement the participation provides, but also showcases a disappointment amongst the users when it comes to the communication between them and the developers. The data collected display an inconsistency from Epic in terms of which users receive credit or agreements for their suggestions, something that some users have reacted upon. This thesis suggests that aspects such as the crediting of players and the communication between players and developers needs to be improved in order to for the game company to maintain a good relationship with the players.