Dorms look vacant from the hallway, parents haven’t seen their kids in hours, all the while, the battle bus is floating over the map. It has been the main topic of discussion around campus for a good month now.

The new craze that has just about everyone glued to their TV screen is Fortnite.  The free downloadable game took everyone by storm about two months ago and hasn’t let up yet. The desire for wins and bragging rights makes this the most popular video game out right now.

Players are dropped onto an island with 99 other competitors, and the game is as simple as being the last one standing. The odds are against you, but it only makes the victories feel that much better. These are bragging rights around campus and only a handful can speak of these accolades.

One of these winners is Sam Milnes, a senior at Williston. Sam has won five times since the beginning of January.

“I don’t know why I get so excited about it, every game is different and I am just a very competitive person,” Sam said. When asked what keeps him coming back for more, he said, “Not knowing what is waiting for you. You never know where all the other people are going and it keeps you on your toes. Every game is different and a chance to be the best one in a game of 100 people.”

This game was released on July 25, 2017, but it really became popular around Thanksgiving and has only gained popularity from there.

The game was designed by a man named Darren Sugg, and it was published by Epic Games. It can be played on both the X-box and PlayStation, as well as computers. Fortnite is also a free download, which is almost unheard of these days; new games typically go for $60.

Brandon McGill told The Willistonian, ” It’s all that everyone is playing right now. Call of Duty has been put on the back burner for at least a month now. No NHL games or anything. It’s fun and a taste of a win has everyone playing.”

Fortnite has taken over our campus and plenty of other places as well. This is clear with its recent nominations; Best multiplayer for The Game Awards 2017, Best Co-Op game for PC Gamer’s 2017 Game of the Year Awards, and Best Spectator game for IGN Best of 2017 Awards.