How do live concerts in Fortnite work?

April 23, 2024 4:19 AM

Here's a sentence from this week's New Yorker article on game engines: "There are now live concerts in Fortnite, attended by millions of people". What do the words "live" and "attended" mean in this context?

Obviously, the concert isn't live in the sense that performer and audience are sharing a physical space in the real world. But are the performers' avatars representing a real band? If so, is the virtual concert designed to mimic the band's real appearance, music and stage show? Perhaps even a specific real-life concert? Do players hear a (presumably licensed) recording of the real band's real music? Or just a virtual approximation? Maybe it's a livestream arrangement similar to watching a gig that's being relayed to your local cinema?

Perhaps the band is an fictional one which exists only within the game, and its music entirely the property of Fortnite's owners? Do virtual bands like this already exist and, if so, have any of them yet attracted a significant fanbase within the game? Is the concert "live" in the sense that it's a one-off event? Or is it part of a library which players can scroll through and experience at any time?

I'm equally curious about the word "attend". Do the audience's avatars have to buy a ticket within the game in order to go to the concert? If so, is the ticket bought with real money or virtual money? If the latter, how is this virtual money acquired? Do you have to be at a particular "location" within the game to experience the concert? Does an individual player have the ability to control how their own avatar reacts to the performance? Even if that reaction is negative? Do we have any reports from people who've attended these concerts? Did they have a good time?

posted by Paul Slade to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

At the ones I’ve seen, a real musical act streams live to a virtual screen/stage setup inside the game. Attendees enter the space by logging into the game and bringing their avatars to the virtual concert space. Folks will generally have their avatars dance, emote, or physically display reactions as they wish. The game developers will set up a thematic space, lighting effects, etc. Here’s a recording of one example. As an attendee, It’s not that different from watching someone livestream, except that instead of seeing/interacting with other attendees through the comments, you see/interact with them via their in-game avatars.

Totally separately - there are also very popular fictional musicians out there (see Hatsune Miko and other vocaloids). I’m not personally aware of any Fortnight concerts featuring a vocaloid, but if it hasn’t happened yet, it’s surely only a matter of time.
posted by ourobouros at 5:14 AM on April 23 [6 favorites]

Dan Olson has a great video on Fortnite and manufactured discontent that answers many of these questions.
posted by Jeanne at 5:47 AM on April 23 [2 favorites]

You may also be interested in Weatherstock, a music festival in Lord of the Rings Online (an MMORPG). That one is free to attend, and the 'bands' are groups of players using in-game instruments (the game has a music system) to play covers. (Generally, they won't be playing note-by-note but will load a MIDI file with their part; the art/creativity lies in choosing which instruments to use and arranging the parts.)
posted by demi-octopus at 6:58 AM on April 23 [1 favorite]

I've "attended" a few of these myself - they're a certain kind of fun. If you want to see them in action there's a youtube video that collects them in one place. I thought the Ariana Grande one was the best.

It's not really a live concert with the performers playing in real-time. They're definitely prepared in advance and a lot of animation goes into the experience. It's live in the sense that the spectators all listen/participate at the same time - typically a few prescheduled times a day for a day or two. To see the show you have to log in and join an online room in advance - sometimes hours early and there have been some showings that overload their servers and leave many unable to attend.

You can run around in the virtual world while you wait, but you're not really playing the game itself. At the show start time your characters will move to a new space for the show. During the performance there are typically some interactive elements. You have to move around a bit, maybe shoot some targets, or play a rock band game. You don't really lose or get booted if you don't participate, but you may miss out on some of the show.

It's just a bit of fun overall, but nothing spectacular in my experience. It's usually also a promotion for the next big update to the game, and will sometimes provide players with cosmetic items for attending.
posted by owls at 10:32 AM on April 23 [1 favorite]

here's a Youtube playlist of a large number of these live Fortnight concerts. If you go through it you'll see a wide variety of styles. Marshmello uses virtual avatars which is solidly on brand for them. Ariana Grande did that as well, but it was basically true to live digital version of her irl appearance. Free Nationals and Fall Out Boy used irl footage of themselves on a screen in the virtual "park".

Do the audience's avatars have to buy a ticket within the game in order to go to the concert?

No

If so, is the ticket bought with real money or virtual money? If the latter, how is this virtual money acquired?

Virtual currency is a thing in video games, but not for a promotional event like this

Do you have to be at a particular "location" within the game to experience the concert?

Yes

Does an individual player have the ability to control how their own avatar reacts to the performance? Even if that reaction is negative?

Yes

Do we have any reports from people who've attended these concerts? Did they have a good time?

If you poke around on YouTube you'll find many many many videos taken from player POV of the events.
posted by anastasiav at 10:40 AM on April 23