A view from Jonathan Emmins
Fortnite x Daft Punk: the next evolution of worldbuilding

Was it a drop? A gig? A game? A mix? An ad? A world?

The reality is, the answer is all of the above.

Epic Games’ latest Fortnite drop significantly moved things on for a platform already renowned as a pioneer of worldbuilding. And for someone who saw Daft Punk’s Daftanddirekt tour in ’97, it gave the same goosebumps (minus the chemicals). Twenty-eight years on, Fortnite’s most recent musical partnership is without a doubt an indicator of where experiences and worldbuilding are heading.

At face value, Fortnite is a multiplayer game, whether playing alone or with squads. More than that though, it provides a space where groups can get together, connect, discover and, above all, have a much-needed sense of community.

Back in 2020, a mind-blowing collaboration between Travis Scott and Fortnite launched the game into many marketers’ playbooks, after 12 million players tuned in to his virtual concert. As many know, that now-infamous in-game Travis image haunted agency pitch decks for far longer than it should have done.

"Worlds Collide: Daft Punk x Fortnite" (which took place on 27 September) felt different, however, and has ushered in a new phase of Fortnite’s evolution. It demonstrates not only the power and scale but also the incredible attention to detail and endless possibilities available on the Unreal game engine platform.

But let’s be honest, a partnership with Daft Punk was always going to work. Already arguably some of the best multi-disciplinary worldbuilders, the guys that lived as robots, "did the Tron soundtrack" and are the proprietors of Coachella-style 'stadium house' are the perfect Fortnite bedfellows. The whole definitely became more than the sum of the parts.

While this cultural moment has been described as an "integrated, immersive and interactive music and gaming experience", this feels too clinical and unemotional. I think it’s better to imagine a big club or a festival with exciting rooms and tents to explore.