Gamer Pays $42,500 for Rare Copy of Free-to-Play Fortnite

A mint condition copy of Fortnite has fetched an astounding $42,500—quite a sum for a game that generally costs nothing to play.

This boxed edition of Fortnite provides access to the original Save the World mode, which still requires a purchase from Epic Games.

However, it’s unlikely that this pristine copy of the iconic battle royale will see any actual gameplay. Sealed and rated 10 A++ by the grading company Wata, this copy represents the pinnacle of video game collectibility.

This particular copy, an Xbox One version from Fortnite’s initial 2017 release, was sold by Heritage Auctions. With a limited number of physical copies available at that time, this edition hails from when Fortnite’s battle royale mode was merely a secondary feature.

The Value of Save the World

Though the purchase includes Save the World, its standalone value is modest. Epic Games has offered this original mode in multiple formats, currently selling it as an $18.49 add-on that comes with 1,500 V-Bucks and an exclusive skin. Nevertheless, this means the buyer is paying a whopping $42,482 beyond the current value.

Fortnite’s Evolution and Cultural Impact

Today, Fortnite has transformed into a complex world featuring battle royales, user-created content, LEGO collaborations, and music events. It’s a hub for countless media franchises, real-life celebrities, and even Quentin Tarantino. Recently, fans witnessed the first peek at Tarantino’s ‘Lost Chapter’ of Kill Bill, starring Uma Thurman’s animated character alongside Fortnite’s Peely the banana, debuting in the game. Such a collaboration would have been unthinkable back in 2017.

Video Games as High-Priced Collectibles

Collecting video games at high prices is not a novel concept. Though $42,500 seems substantial, it pales in comparison to other auction records. In 2021, a factory-sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. sold for an astonishing $2 million. While debates exist around the nature of that sale, Guinness World Records acknowledges a Super Mario 64 copy that sold for $1.56 million as the highest bid to date. Who knows how much this Fortnite copy will be valued in a century’s time?

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Image credit: Heritage Auctions/HA.com