Is the popular game Fortnite shutting down? No, that's not true: an image showing a tweet claiming that was the case originated on a prank website, it is not real.
The text of the faked tweet read
Due to the law suit against PubG on copyright infringement. We are sorry to inform you that Fortnite Battle Royale will be coming to an end May 24, 2018. Save the world will still be in development and we will roll aout ASAP. Thank you all for the support.
The news was obviously fake since May 24 is already in the past.
The story originated from an article published by some joker on Channel28News on May 5, 2018 titled "Fortnite shutting down - Channel 28 News" (archived here) which opened:
After the lawsuit with Epic Games and Tencent Games the popular game Fortnite will be shutting. In a tweet of Fortnite saying the game will end on May 24 2018
Users on social media only saw this title, description and thumbnail:
Fortnite shutting down - Channel 28 News
After the lawsuit with Epic Games and Tencent Games the popular game Fortnite will be shutting. In a tweet of Fortnite saying the game will end on May 24 2018
The site is part of a network of prank sites operated by Korry Scherer from Milwaukee, WI. according to WHOIS data. The site lets visitors create their own realistic looking fake news stories to prank friends and family.
The site seems to be part of a network of similar sites. So far we've found these, but there may be others:
- channel22news.com
- channel23news.com
- channel24news.com
- channel28news.com
- channel33news.com
- channel34news.com
- channel40news.com
- channel45news.com
- channel46news.com
The sites all come with disclaimers at the bottom of each prank:
We do NOT support FAKE NEWS!!! This is a Prank website that is intended for Fun. Bullying, Violent Threats or posts that Violate Public Order are NOT permitted on this Website.
We wrote about channel28news.com before, here are our most recent articles that mention the site:
