Skip to main content

How to play Fortnite on PS4

how to play fortnite on ps4
Image used with permission by copyright holder

You’ve probably at least seen or heard of Fortnite — after all, it’s one of the (if not the) biggest games in the world right now. Though it wasn’t the first game to implement the popular battle royale genre, it certainly capitalized on it and brought it to the forefront.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • PlayStation 4

  • Internet connection

You can get it on a lot of modern devices, from smartphones and tablets to PC, and even consoles like the PS4. But how exactly do you get your hands on it on PS4, specifically? You’ll notice there aren’t any Fortnite discs sold in stores (barring any used copies of the original game that launched in 2017), so the only way to get it on your system is to download it. In this guide, we’ll show you how to do just that.

Here’s everything you need to know about playing Fortnite on PS4.

Further reading

How to get Fortnite on PS4

Before getting into the steps for downloading Fortnite on PS4, you’ll need to ensure your system is connected to the internet. You can do so via Wi-Fi or with an Ethernet cable. Once you do, log in with your PSN account and you’ll come to the PS4’s home screen, which features all of your apps and games aligned horizontally. At this point, you can follow the steps to get Fortnite on your system.

Step 1: Navigate to the PlayStation store. From the home screen, scroll all the way to the left and you’ll find an app labeled PlayStation Store. Click X on this.

how to play fortnite on ps4 20200819145045
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 2: Next, you’ll be brought to the PS Store’s main menu. You’ll see a lot of options on the left side of the screen, but the one you’re looking for is labeled Search at the top. It has a magnifying glass next to it and is located to the left of the Cart tab.

how to play fortnite on ps4 20200819145037
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 3: Press X on Search and you’ll be able to type in the game you’re looking for — in this case, Fortnite.

Step 4: To search for Fortnite, you can click on each individual letter to find what you’re looking for. When we tried it, we typed in F-O and Fortnite came up instantly. So there’s no need to type in the whole name, given its popularity. For more obscure titles, you might have to type in the full name. You should see Fortnite appear on the right side. It will simply be labeled Fortnite, so don’t worry about any add-ons for right now.

how to play fortnite on ps4 20200819145621
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 5: Press X on Fortnite.

Step 6: Download Fortnite, which is free, so you don’t need to use a credit card or currency to download it. Simply press X on Download, and it’ll begin downloading onto your PS4.

At this point, you’re free to press the PS button on your controller (denoted by the PlayStation logo in the center between the sticks) to go back to the system’s home screen.

how to play fortnite on ps4 20200819145908
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 7: It’s no fun, but at this point you’ll have to wait for the download to finish. Luckily, it’s not a large file, so it shouldn’t take too long to finish.

how to play fortnite on ps4 20200819150044
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 8: When it’s ready, the download bar will go away and it will say Start. Press that after it’s finished downloading and you’ll launch into the game.

How to launch and run Fornite

Launch into the game.

Step 1: At this point, you’ll be taken to the game’s main menu. If you don’t have an Epic account tied to your system (or don’t have one at all), you’ll need to make one and link it to your PS4. We go into more detail on how to link your Fortnite Epic account here.

how to play fortnite on ps4 20200819151452
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 2: Once you’re logged in, it’ll send you to a screen that presents you with three options: Save the World, Battle Royale, and Creative.

From here, you can choose what you want, but most people pick Battle Royale. This is the online competitive mode that is constantly updated, and you can jump in right away.

how to play fortnite on ps4 20200819151530
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Install size

Fortnite isn’t a massive file and clocks in at around 6.69GB on PS4. Oddly enough, if you look at the game’s listing in the Storage section of the PS4’s Settings menu, it might show up as 35GB. This has to do with the hard drive type in your PS4 — which can change the compression of the game’s files. Either way, plan for between 7GB and 35GB of free space, just to be safe.

Assuming you picked Battle Royale, you’ll be taken to this mode’s main home screen, where you can look at your progress, items, and Battle Pass features. Oh, and you can launch into a match from here, as well. Now you’re ready to go!

how to play fortnite on ps4 20200819151602
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Do you need PS Plus to play?

You do not need a PS Plus membership in order to play Fortnite online. This means you can start playing right out of the box, provided you have an internet connection. Typically, PS Plus is required to play games online, but there are exceptions with games that are free. Some free games still require a PS Plus membership, but Fortnite does not, so you’ll be good to go without spending any extra money.

how to play fortnite on ps4 20200819155922
Image used with permission by copyright holder

V-Bucks

Fortnite does include in-game purchases on a currency called V-Bucks, though. V-Bucks are used to buy items from the shop, like different outfits, gliders, emotes, and music. A lot of times, they’re tied to specific pieces of pop culture, like Marvel and DC. This is how Fortnite makes money.

If you’re a parent and don’t want your child to use this feature, it’s best to disallow the use of credit cards on the PS4. We’ve all heard horror stories of younger gamers running up a bill because of easy access to credit card information. Though if you do intend to spend money on V-Bucks, take note of the specific item you want before making your purchase.

With all that being said, you should have everything you need to get started playing Fortnite!

Joseph Yaden
Joseph Yaden is a freelance journalist who covers Nintendo, shooters, and horror games. He mostly covers game guides for…
Civilization 7 suzerain guide: how to influence independent civs
A walled city sitting behind a mountain.

Civilization 7 has done away with the old Barbarians from past games and replaced them with a similar but distinct feature called Independent Powers. This new title comes with a host of new ways to interact with these minor players in your game that require a new set of tips and tricks to master. While you could invade and destroy them, there's a lot more to gain if you use your Influence to become their suzerain and adopt them into your own civ for a faster and easier way to create a new town. You can't take over any of these civs by force, so we'll show you how to be more diplomatic and incorporate these NPC towns into your civ.

Read more
How to join the Splitgate 2 open alpha
A colorful arena from Splitgate 2.

There have already been a few closed tests for the upcoming video game Splitgate 2, but these have been restricted to select players. Ever since the first one made a big splash in the FPS community, excitement for the sequel has been growing. The full game still doesn't have a release date, but we are getting an open alpha test where anyone can test out a handful of maps, modes, and weapons before it comes out. Since this test is free, there's no reason not to jump in! Here's everything you need to know about joining the Splitgate 2 open alpha and what you can expect.
How to join the Splitgate 2 open alpha
Open Alpha Teaser Trailer | Splitgate 2

The Splitgate 2 open alpha will be available to all players on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. As soon as the test begins on February 27, visit the game's store page on your platform of choice and you will be free to download the alpha and get into the action. There are no restrictions or need to sign up beforehand.

Read more
How to upgrade towns to cities in Civilization 7
A roman city in Civilization 7.

One of the four Xs in 4X games like Civilization 7 is expand. You will never grow fast enough to compete with the other Leaders if you stick to just your starting capital city. An obvious but essential tip for Civilization 7 is to quickly expand out and found new towns to get more resources. As useful as towns are, you will eventually want to convert some of them into full cities for even greater benefits. The tutorials will tell you this is possible, but leaves out the important detail of exactly how. It won't take long, but will cost you plenty of gold.

Read more