Epic Games is trying to attract more players to its free-to-play battle royale game, Fortnite, by letting you try out the game right from Discord. The feature, powered by GeForce Now cloud gaming , provides two 30-minute trial sessions per week to Discord users who don't have Fortnite installed on their computers.
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The Fortnite trial will be available until October 30, with sessions renewing every Tuesday at 4:59 p.m., Epic announced. You can access the trial by clicking the sign-up link on Epic’s announcement page, which will redirect you to Discord. Availability is limited to PC players in the US, UK, Mexico, Canada, and several European countries. However, it’s worth noting that some users, including a colleague from the UK, were unable to start the experience on Discord without using a VPN connected to the US.
There are no requirements to install Fortnite to play the tests, but users must be logged into both their Discord and Epic Games accounts to connect them for the test. Epic says it doesn’t share player data with Nvidia or Discord, but notes that the companies “may independently” collect it. The Fortnite tests are the first of Nvidia and Discord’s direct game testing experiments, which could allow Discord users to directly test other titles in the future.
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This move by Epic Games shows its effort to strengthen Fortnite's presence on social media platforms and attract new players who may not have tried the game before. The ability to try it directly through Discord is a strategic move that can increase Fortnite's user base, as Discord is one of the most popular communication platforms for gamers.
The partnership with Nvidia and the use of the GeForce Now also indicates the growing importance of cloud gaming, which allows users to play demanding games without the need for powerful hardware. This trend could change the landscape of gaming, making it more accessible to a wider audience.
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Additionally, the ability to test games without the need for installation can lower the barriers to entry for new players, allowing them to try games before deciding to download or purchase them. This can lead to greater engagement and interest in Fortnite and other titles that may be offered in the future through similar tests.
