Have you heard the hype about Fortnite – the insanely popular Battle Royale game taking the world by storm? Well, I‘ve got good news for you Nintendo fans. You can now join in on the fun by downloading and playing Fortnite right on your Nintendo Switch!
In this epic 2000+ word guide, I‘ll teach you exactly how to get Fortnite running on your Switch in just minutes. You‘ll learn:
- The wild backstory behind Fortnite‘s rise to fame
- Why the Switch is built for Battle Royale gameplay
- Easy step-by-step instructions for downloading
- Tips to start dominating matches on Switch now
So let‘s get you official bragging rights amongst friends for scoring Victory Royales from your couch or on-the-go!
Fortnite Fever – Taking Over the World
Chances are you‘ve already heard about Fortnite even if you haven‘t played it yourself yet. But just in case – let me catch you up to speed first!
Epic Games first started work on Fortnite back in 2011. Inspired by popular survival/building titles like Minecraft and Left 4 Dead, Fortnite focused on online cooperative gameplay and expansive construction mechanics.
After plenty of delays and setbacks, Epic finally opened Fortnite early access in 2017 across PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One platforms. But later that year, Epic introduced a new revolutionary free-to-play Battle Royale mode.
This competitive mode airdrops 100 players onto an island to scavenge for weapons and battle to be the last player standing while a deadly storm closes in. Sound familiar? It wasn‘t the first of its kind – but Fortnite‘s cartoonish visuals made it widely accessible beyond just hardcore gamers.
And the rest is history – over 125 million players joined within the first year!
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| July 2017 | Battle Royale Mode Launched |
| Sept 2017 | 10 Million Players |
| Nov 2017 | 20 Million Players |
| Jan 2018 | 45 Million Players |
| June 2018 | 125 Million Players |
Celebrities like Drake and NFL athletes began streaming matches. Kids were doing in-game dances in schools and on social media. Fortnite became a cultural phenomenon seemingly overnight!
Epic struck while the iron was hot too, securing deals for in-game cosmetics with Marvel, Star Wars, and more. Each new season promises fresh themes, Battle Pass rewards, exotic weapons or new ways to get around the island – keeping the game feeling fresh.
So in summary – pretty much everyone and their grandma plays Fortnite these days! But why specifically focus on the Switch and what makes it right for Battle Royale on-the-go? Keep reading!
Why Nintendo Switch is Ideal for Fortnite‘s Fast Action
Back in June 2018, Epic Games and Nintendo partnered up to bring Fortnite into the Nintendo ecosystem as well. Let‘s explore what makes the hybrid home/handheld console such a great fit:
Processing Power – Don‘t let its size fool you – the Nintendo Switch can keep pace with Fortnite‘s demanding graphics and rapid 100-player matches thanks to Nvidia Tegra X1 processing architecture. While visual fidelity lags a bit behind other platforms, consistent 30 FPS means smooth handheld gameplay.
Joy-Con Motion Controls – Switch Joy-Cons allow you to aim your pickaxe swings or snipe shots with gyro technology for quicker response times. Tilting to target beats thumbsticks when every millisecond counts!
Local Multiplayer – Gather with 7 other friends for local split-screen Fortnite parties! PlayStation and Xbox consoles don‘t allow local play – so Switch connects close groups for fun competition and camaraderie in-person.
On-the-Go Action – Perhaps most importantly, the Switch‘s signature portability lets you enjoy Fortnite any time, any place, for quick drop-in sessions or hours-long gaming marathons. I‘ll often squad up with online friends from airport lounges, road trips or just relaxing outside. The flexibility can‘t be beat!
While visuals take a slight hit, if you value buttery-smooth performance, motion aiming, local multiplayer and ultimate portability – the Nintendo Switch is ideal for your Fortnite habit!
Now that I‘ve convinced you of how great this pairing is, let me show you just how easy it is to get downloaded and playing in minutes flat!
Step 1) Launch Nintendo eShop
The Nintendo eShop is your go-to hub for all games available on the Switch platform – from massive new releases to quirky indie projects. Fortnite is free here!
Accessing it only takes a few button presses:
Press the power button to startup your Nintendo Switch
From the main menu, use your Joy-Con or Pro Controller to scroll down and select the bright orange Nintendo eShop icon
The application will begin loading – just sit tight for a minute or two
Once fully loaded, you‘ll be met with the familiar eShop stores and menus – time to search for Fortnite!
See, I told you getting started would be easy! Now onto Step 2…
Step 2) Search and Select Fortnite
Using the eShop search makes locating Fortnite‘s listing quick and painless. Just:
Look to the top left corner for the search bar and select it
Type in "Fortnite" either using the touchscreen keyboard or Joy-Con directional buttons
Wait for "Fortnite" auto-complete in the dropdown suggestions
Select it, then choose Fortnite from the search results area
This opens the Fortnite Nintendo eShop page – your next stop before downloading
Once you‘ve pulled up Fortnite‘s eShop landing page, take a quick browse through screenshots, videos trailers, user reviews and details on the game‘s features so you know what you‘re getting into!
When you‘re ready, it‘ll be time to make Fortnite officially yours by downloading it directly to your console.
Step 3) Initiate Fortnite Download
This last step is crazy easy and your ticket to tons of gaming fun either on your couch, at the park, or anywhere else when you‘ve got some free time!
Here‘s the process to start your Fortnite download:
On the Fortnite eShop page, scroll down and select the large blue Download button
Once selected, you‘ll head back to the main menu automatically
An icon for Fortnite will show up indicating the download has begun
Now comes the hardest part – waiting! Even with solid WiFi, expect around 30-45 minutes for a 19 GB installation. Fortnite is worth it though. Consider taking a quick break then coming back.
You can keep an eye on the icon to track progress reaching 100%. As soon as it hits, Fortnite is ready to launch directly from your games library!
[Image of Fortnite eShop Page With Download Button]Step 4) Time for Battle – Play Fortnite on Nintendo Switch
Congratulations – you‘ve officially got Fortnite running on your Nintendo Switch! Wasn‘t too painful right?
You‘re now ready to:
- Set up custom skins and characters
- Squad up with friends online
- Explore solo, duo or four-player matches
- Duke it out across the island for Victory Royale glory and those sweet celebratory emotes!
Just select Fortnite‘s icon from your games library once fully installed. Sign into your free Epic Games account or create one first. Then learn the basics in training before your first Battle Bus drop!
Trust me, that first Victory Royale with your customized character is a feeling like no other. Let‘s get you there!
[Image of Switch With Fortnite Ready]Top Player Tips for Nintendo Switch
With Fortnite installed, take a minute to optimize everything for your Switch console with these suggestions:
Adjust Controller Settings: Accelerate look sensitivity to turn quickly and toggle on motion aiming for gyroscope accuracy.
Build! Build! Build!: Use The Playground training area you perfect construction techniques for fast defenses and strategic towers.
Play in Handheld and Docked Mode: Enjoy Fortnite anywhere in handheld configuration with Joy-Cons attached. Docking to a TV at home takes graphics to the next level.
Experiment with Console Exclusives: Take advantage of exclusive skins and lobby animations only Switch users can unlock!
Play Duos or Squads with Friends: Team up with other gamers online for better tactics, revived teammates and a socially fun time gaming together!
Complete Daily and Seasonal Challenges: Keep things fresh while earning XP to unlock the next Battle Pass tier rewards.
Set yourself up for Fortnite success on Switch with these suggestions!
Now brace yourself as I drop some sweet insider speculation on where things go from here…
The Future Looks Bright for Fortnite on Nintendo
Since partnering with Nintendo back in 2018, things have only gotten bigger and better each season for Fortnite. And I expect Epic has some awesome surprises in store for Switch gamers over the coming months and years!
For starters, is a full blown Zelda or Mario crossover in the cards? We‘ve already seen special Switch cosmetics, so famous Nintendo faces entering the world of Fortnite someday feels imminent to me.
On the hardware side, an even more powerful Switch Pro model has been rumored as well down the road. More processing muscle and maxed out Joy-Con capabilities? Yes please! Silky smooth frame rates in handheld here we come.
And Fortnite‘s recently launched Unreal Engine 5 opens practically limitless possibilities for further graphical enhancements pending Switch hardware advancements. Even on current gen tech though, Chapter 4 delivers welcome improvements.
As Nintendo‘s signature hybrid portable enters its 5th year on the market, it stands to reason Fortnite still has plenty of radical evolution ahead specifically for Switch users. Exciting times await!
In closing, I hope you‘ve found this guide helpful for downloading, playing and optimizing your Fortnite experience on the Nintendo Switch! Let the battle begin. Catch you out there on the island!
