Yahoo Finance 'Fall Guys' to join 'Fortnite' family under Epic Games. What that could mean for players
The creators of the popular online game "Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout" have a new home.
Epic Games, the company behind "Fortnite," announced Tuesday it has acquired Tonic Games Group, part of a larger plan to create a metaverse where players congregate online to socialize, play games or attend events.
The game, available on PC and PlayStation platforms and launching soon for Nintendo Switch and Xbox, features rotund characters wobbling around in a series of obstacle courses and challenges. Similar to the "Fortnite" battle royale, "Fall Guys" games typically start with 60 players and end with one final winner.
Epic said it will continue investing in the game to make it "a great experience for players across platforms," in a statement released Tuesday.
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This purchase, says Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney, is part of its larger plan to invest in building a metaverse where players get together virtually.
"It’s no secret that Epic is invested in building the metaverse and Tonic Games shares this goal," said Sweeney in a statement. "As Epic works to build this virtual future, we need great creative talent who know how to build powerful games, content and experiences."
"Fortnite" has demonstrated the possibilities of a metaverse in different forms, including a concert by Travis Scott hosted within the game and an appearance by JJ Abrams, director of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," who shared exclusive clips tied to the movie.
One possibility for "Fall Guys" is that the game could be made available to players for free. It currently costs $14.99 on PlayStation and $19.99 on PC and Mac platform Steam. Similar to "Fortnite," Fall Guys offers the option for players to acquire gear like outfits using in-game currency.
In 2019, Psyonix Games, the makers of competitive sports game "Rocket League," revealed they were being acquired by Epic Games. Last year, the game followed Fortnite in adopting a free-to-play model.
Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fall Guys to join Fortnite in Epic Games. What that means for players
