Fortnite is a global phenomenon with tens of millions of people playing Fortnite Battle Royale (its battle royale gameplay mode) around the world. The game is so popular that the action is spilling out into real-life, with players of the hugely successful game replicating some of its gameplay during professional sports matches.
Over the weekend, eagle-eyed fans of the National Rugby League (the professional rugby league for Australasia, including Australia and New Zealand) spotted several players performing Fortnite-inspired celebrations. First up was Josh Dugan of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. During Cronulla's game against the North Queensland Cowboys, Dugan scored his very first try and the professional rugby player celebrated in style, getting down on one knee to mimic the bandage animation that many Fortnite players will be familiar with.
Dugan wasn't the only one, though. Sydney Roosters player Blake Ferguson also performed the Fortnite bandage animation to celebrate his try against the Wests Tigers and New Zealand Warriors player Isaiah Papali'i did it too when he scored a try against the South Sydney Rabbitohs. In fact, Isaiah Papali'i was even spotted practicing the celebration with a teammate.
At this point, it's unclear whether the three NRL players coordinated their celebrations and whether this was a planned event. Though it seems quite plausible that Ferguson, Papali'i, Dugan, and co. Have been playing Fortnite Battle Royale together during the offseason. They may be competitors on the field, but in Fortnite, they may play together as friends.
In any case, the professional rugby players are not the only professional athletes who have gone to some lengths to show their support for the game. NBA player Josh Hart wore a pair of custom, Fortnite-inspired sneakers ahead of a game last month - Hart didn't just perform a Fortnite- inspired celebration, he spent money to commission a pair of one-of-a-kind shoes which is some serious dedication.
Fortnite developers Epic Games and People Can Fly will surely be delighted with all of the attention that the game is getting. Fortnite hasn't had the best press lately with a Good Morning America segment asking whether parents should be concerned about how much time their children are spending playing the game. Clearly Fortnite Battle Royale isn't all bad though if sports rivals can overcome their differences to coordinate silly celebrations during professional matches.