All eyes were focused on Roblox last year, but in 2023, UK research firm Dubit says the industry should pay attention to Fortnite Creative. The gaming platform is evolving into a space where users can make and play their own games, and it could become a new hot spot for kids.

Fortnite Creative, which Epic Games launched in 2018, is a game where players create structures they can share with other players. The next phase of its evolution will see Epic make it a bit more like Roblox by introducing tools creators can use to build their own games. This move could play out as soon as this month, and it will make the platform “more accessible to user-generated games and experiences,” according to Dubit’s report.

Dubit’s data shows that the time spent by six- to 11-year-olds in the US playing mobile games rose by 44% between October 2021 and October 2022. And similar increases were seen in France (22%), Germany (25%) and Australia (37%).

Concerns about the economy are leading some families to choose spending time together at home over other more costly entertainment options, the report adds.

Dubit expects Fortnite will garner more time and attention in 2023 from gamers who also want social experiences. And if amateur and pro developers flock to Fortnite Creative and kids start playing the user-generated games, this could create a cycle that attracts more users, says Dubit.

Looking ahead, Dubit predicts that the quick turnaround time of these Fortnite Creative (and Roblox) games, which can be made in days or weeks, could spell the end of the multi-year IP development cycles. And some brand owners might want to test out their content’s viability in these fast and less expensive digital spaces, where they can tease new IPs or create pop-up experiences to gauge interest in development concepts.