The Fortnite World Cup was an amazingly successful esports event that set the bar for other games.
There were 2.3 million people watching online and 19,000 in attendance over the 3 day event.
And though things looked great for competitive Fortnite, there's some uncertainty around coronavirus quarantine.
Despite coronavirus increasing the amount that people play video games signficantly, it also means danger for in-person esports events. Especially ones on the scale of the Fortnite World Cup.
Epic Games has responded accordingly, and have officially cancelled Fornite World Cup 2020.
But why cancel instead of going digital?
Fortnite World Cup 2020 cancelled
NOT THIS YEAR - Fortnite World Cup 2020 is out, we can only hope for Fortnite World Cup 2021
Coronavirus has taken many things from us, and we can now add Fortnite World Cup 2020 to that list.
What was scheduled to be one of the biggest esports events in history is now not even a digital competition. Epic Games fully cancelled the event due to issues with cross-regional online competition.
Whether Epic Games targets these cross-regional competitive issues for future digital events remains to be seen, but for now, all in-person Fortnite events will be digital. This doesn't include Fortnite World Cup 2020, which was outright cancelled.
READ MORE: Fortnite World Cup 2020 officially cancelled
Why not digital?
LACK OF VISION - Epic Games chooses to cancel before trying to fix digital competition issues
Every major esports event has gone the route of going digital due to coronavirus. It's a huge surprise that one of the strongest presences in esports today is outright cancelling its biggest event instead of taking to the internet.
The reasoning Epic Games offers for cancelling its biggest event is issues with cross-regional online competition in Fortnite.
The decision to cancel Fortnite World Cup 2020 instead of fixing issues within the game to allow digital competition shows a lack of foresight and care from Epic Games.
This event is vital to the competitive Fortnite ecosystem. Epic Games failing to adapt and protect it is a huge blow to the company's image in esports.
Simply put, if every smaller game out can do it, surely Fortnite can too.
READ MORE: Fortnite Chapter 2: How To Obtain the Minty Pickaxe!
Will Fortnite World Cup 2021 also be cancelled?
EMPTY SEATS: Fans will be hoping that the event goes ahead, but if not in-person, will Fortnite fix its digital landscape?
Much is up in the air at the moment, due to the ongoing battle with the COVID-19 pandemic.
READ MORE: Is Fortnite coming to the PS5?
With government issued orders to clamp down on any mass gatherings, the Fortnite World Cup, which brought in over 19,000 fans over the three day 2019 event, could very well be cancelled again in 2021.
The most affected competitors
Mongraal!
HOW OLD?! Mongraal is just 15 years old - the youngest Faze member.
Mongraal - or Kyle Jackson as he is otherwise known - is a member of the American esports team Faze Clan.
READ MORE: Fortnite World Cup 2020: Date, Venue, Qualification
His YouTube following currently stands at over two million subs, whilst he also regularly streams on Twitch.
At just 15-years-old, Mongraal is the youngest of the Faze Clan members and was looking to make a big impact at the Fortnite World Cup this year.
Read Mongraal's full player profile here!
Bugha - last year's Winner!
LIGHTING FAST- Bugha has some of the best mechanics in the game!
Kyle "Bugha" Giersdorf is a 17-year-old Fortnite player from Pennsylvania who currently plays for Sentinels.
READ MORE: Fortnite World Cup 2020: Date, Venue, Qualification
Averaging anywhere from 5,000-20,000 viewers on Twitch regularly, he is one of the biggest names in Fortnite at the moment.
Bugha was a well-known player in the competitive scene before the Fortnite World Cup; however, after the event, his social media following his exploded into another stratosphere. Those fans were looking forward to seeing a potential repeat from their favorite player.