Topgolf takes a swing at Fortnite as part of its Creative program

Topgolf is now in Fortnite with a map that features adaptations of their game’s driving range locations. Part of the Fortnite Creative program, the map is now available on all Fortnite platforms (console, mobile, and PC) through a deal with Topgolf from Zoned (an agency under the GameSquare Holdings banner). Moonlight Studios, a subsidiary of Zoned, created the map for Zoned. No other agency was involved in this arrangement.

The idea to bring Topgolf to Fortnite started with a simple premise: “Someone’s teeing off at Topgolf,” said Zoned President Carlos Tovar.

“We’ve been working behind the scenes with gamers and gaming companies for a few years now, and this was a result of building relationships and trusting that our friends at Zoned could bring our brand to the Fortnite world in an authentic way and create something truly special,” said Geoff Cottrill, Chief Brand Officer at Topgolf. He also said that Topgolf has “no current plans” to integrate the Fortnite map into its venues. For now, no other brands other than Topgolf are part of this map — no branded clubs, balls, or other equipment are part of it.

Topgolf doesn’t sell any in-game actions on this map. According to Tovar, it’s a game of interaction. “Topgolf doesn’t sell anything, but our focus is to create awareness so that you can swing your first club at a Topgolf.”

Cottrill said the market opportunity of bringing Topgolf into Fortnite fits well with the company’s mission to “bring more games to the world,” and that Topgolf would be “hard-pressed to find anything bigger than Fortnite.”

The deal also aligns with “often-heard advice” from SBJ’s AXS DRIVE last week: “Meet your fans where they are.”

“This is our attempt to reach out to our Gen Z audience and do something fun with them,” Cottrill said.

Mods include:

• Swing show

• Topgolf Speedway, where golf cart racing takes place.
• Golf ball ramp jump challenge and Whack-a-Ball
• Topgolf World Tour, which recreates four of the company’s locations: Santa Monica, Bangkok, Dubai and Las Vegas.

World Tour mode is interesting because you don’t just hit balls — you become the ball while speedrunning around a tabletop mini golf course. Players will also be able to play Topgolf (Fortnite’s term for skins) with any outfit in their collection, so you could find yourself golfing with Darth Vader.

“The beauty of what Epic and Fortnite have created is an ecosystem that is grounded in accessibility and democratization of IP,” Tovar said. “We’re building an experience that allows fans and participants at home to play the way they want, wear the clothes they want, and express themselves the way they want.

Additionally, Zoned/GameSquare and Topgolf have enlisted a number of streamers to promote today’s launch. Pro Fortnite players Bugha and Clix are streaming to their 13.3 million subscribers on Twitch, and two other notable content creators in the Fortnite community, Nate Hill and Kazify, will also be promoting the Topgolf map (and sharing a code for a discount at all US Topgolf locations), including a chance to win a Topgolf Black card.

Zoned’s previous work in Fortnite includes maps and other builds for Mastercard, Samsung, Prime, and 5-Hour Energy.