Web3 Fortnite-Clone Solnite Teases Next Phase of Roadmap, Trend of IP Copying Continues

• Upcoming Solana-based battle royale Solnite closely mimics Epic Games’ Fortnite’s art style and naming convention.
• The reliance on basing Web3 titles on established IPs raises questions about originality and long-term growth.
• Cloning game formulas has long been part of the wider games industry.

Solnite, an upcoming Web3 battle royale game built on the Solana blockchain, features a play-to-earn economy and a very familiar look to one of the biggest games in the world.

At first glance, the title appears to be a misspelled version of the battle royale giant Fortnite, but the Web3 game has no official affiliation with Epic Games.

As the blockchain gaming space grows, the line between homage and imitation continues to blur, raising concerns about originality in the sector.

Solnite Battle Royale

On May 12, Solnite shared an X post advertising the pre-sale for the game’s in-game currency, $NITE tokens.

The pre-sale is scheduled for June 8, and a Telegram group has been formed to provide updates to the community.

Solnite describes “next-level visuals and an immersive, one-of-a-kind storyline.”

The game claims it will “redefine what’s possible in Web3 gaming,” aiming to build a next-generation ecosystem in which players truly own their in-game assets and are rewarded based on skill.

According to the project’s whitepaper , Solnite’s characters, weapons, and other in-game items are stored as NFTs.

A pre-sale for the game’s in-game currency, $NITE tokens, is set to begin on June 8.

Solnite vs. Fortnite: Undeniable Similarities

It’s difficult to deny that Solnite fits within a broader trend of Web3 games heavily borrowing from traditional gaming IPs.

Both Solnite and Fortnite utilize a similar battle royale formula: players are dropped into a large map where the last team standing wins.

Besides some subtle differences, such as a unique story detailed in its whitepaper and a gameplay loop that involves managing energy, much of the inspiration is clear.

While the battle royale loop is no longer unique to Fortnite, and many similar games have followed since its launch, Solnite has taken things further by adopting a colorful, cartoonish visual style strikingly similar to Fortnite’s signature aesthetic.

From character designs to even its name, Solnite closely mirrors Epic Games’ flagship title.

A Disappointing Trend

Solnite isn’t alone in its approach. Numerous high-profile projects across the blockchain gaming world have launched with gameplay mechanics and visual styles that closely resemble those of mainstream titles.

Splinterlands’ NFT-powered, turn-based card battle project strongly resembles Hearthstone, Blizzard’s genre-defining digital card game.

Similarly, Skyweaver, another Web3 collectible card game, clearly draws influence from Magic: The Gathering.

It features familiar mechanics like elemental spells and creature summoning that long-time MTG fans will immediately recognize.

Skyweaver, however, claims it offers a unique experience.

In a Q&A blog , the development team highlighted its blockchain-based trading system as a differentiator, allowing players to buy and sell cards freely.

Yet, the blog offered no clear distinction in terms of gameplay mechanics.

Not Just a Web3 Problem

While the bulk of imitation in Web3 games is controversial, it’s hardly a new phenomenon in gaming.

When Grand Theft Auto III launched in 2001, it revolutionized 3D open-world gameplay and spawned an entire subgenre known as “GTA clones.”

Titles like Saints Row, True Crime: Streets of LA, and even the cult classic Scarface video game borrowed heavily from its formula: free-roaming city maps, vehicle mechanics, and mission-based progression.

In fact, you could argue that every first-person shooter released after Doom and Quake has copied an already created set of mechanics.

The difference with Web3 may lie in the inherently speculative nature of its economies.

While traditional game clones must compete on polish and gameplay quality, Web3 titles can often ride hype cycles and token sales to early success, even when their core innovations are limited.