"Take breaks and time to yourself when needed" Lachlan Power on burnout, the state of Fortnite, being a Nacon Signature Gamer, and more (Exclusive)
When it comes to Fortnite and Rocket League, Lachlan Power is a name people know and trust. A creator of quality content for several years, he’s also founded his own gaming org, PWR. He’s created excellent content alongside several known members of the Fortnite community, and earlier this year was named Nacon’s first Signature Gamer. Around that time, we began planning an interview with Lachlan, to learn more about him, his career, and the peripherals he prefers.
His career started off as CraftBattleDuty on YouTube, but he’s grown a great deal since then. With 15M+ followers, he’s created a real name for himself in the worlds of both Fortnite and Rocket League. We spoke to Lachlan about his career, the state of Fortnite in the modern era, and much more.
Lachlan opens up about his Fortnite/Rocket League career, being a Nacon Signature Gamer, and more
Q) First, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us. For those who might not know you, could you introduce yourself to our audience?
Lachlan: I’m Lachlan, a Content Creator and YouTuber, and founder of gaming and esports organization PWR. I’ve been creating content for more than 10 years, primarily on YouTube, and at the moment a lot of my content is focused around Fortnite!
Q) PWR is widely regarded as one of the top teams in both Rocket League and Fortnite in the OCE Region. Are there any plans to expand into other games in the future?
Lachlan: We are always monitoring the competitive gaming scene to see what is viable and something that is entertaining for our viewers and fans!
Q) You are regarded as one of the most prominent and entertaining Fortnite content creators. With years of experience and extensive knowledge of the game, what is the one aspect of Fortnite that you love the most? Conversely, what is one thing about the game that you find particularly frustrating?
Lachlan: I love the creative landscape and how the game is evolving every day with the tools of UEFN.
Q) Ever since starting PWR, how has having your own organization impacted your content and your output compared to before having your own team?
Lachlan: It’s definitely a balance running my own business, and creatively trying to differentiate Lachlan and PWR content, but I really enjoy having the group channel, and I think it allows us to expand into so many different areas and has been a super fun journey.
Q) Has practicing and playing Fortnite rigorously taken away from your enjoyment of the game over the years? How do you make sure you don’t feel burnt out, something that can happen with most games?
Lachlan: I love playing the game, it’s definitely the longest I’ve invested in a game for content on my channel and it’s a credit to Epic for continually updating the playing landscape. I think it’s also just important to take breaks and time to yourself when needed, to make sure you balance your personal and professional life, but I genuinely love what I do and am so fortunate to be a content creator.
Q) How has the direction Fortnite has taken impacted your enjoyment and moreover your content creation in the game? For example how Epic Games has rolled back on the frequency of updates since the game’s early days.
Lachlan: I think the way they have tried to diversify, collaborate with new partners like Marvel, etc. has been pretty exciting, and they are always looking at ways to reach new audiences and continually upgrade and expand the game through things like UEFN.
I still of course miss OG days, when Fortnite content was in its prime, and wish there was a higher investment in competitive like there used to be, but hopefully, we see more of that in the future again, the Esports World Cup recently showed how invested fans and partners can be in the gaming scene.
Q) Back in December 2023, you made a video where you said you were switching to a controller, as opposed to a keyboard and mouse. Now that we’re a few months removed from that, what does a controller bring to Fortnite that you weren’t getting with a keyboard?
Lachlan: That was actually for a video where I was doing a controller challenge, but I am still playing on keyboard and mouse. Every time I play controller-based games like Rocket League and Fall Guys I use the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro, which has customized profiles for my gameplay which is pretty cool.
Q) On that note, there’s a bit of a stigma when it comes to playing with a controller. People say controller players don’t deserve to play competitively, and other things of that nature - as someone who has excelled with both, what are your thoughts?
Lachlan: It all depends on the user and game format, in Rocket League landscape for example, 90% of pro players are controller players, so depending on the game, there are disadvantages and advantages to what peripheral you use. For me, keyboard and mouse is best for Fortnite, but in other games, I prefer controller for sure as the game may be better suited to it.
Q) Speaking of controller gameplay, what’s your take on building on a controller, as opposed to mouse and keyboard? Do you find one remarkably easier than the other and why?
Lachlan: Because I’ve played keyboard and mouse for so long, building is a lot easier on that for me, but for players starting out who have predominantly played controller-based games growing up, I think controller would be easier to learn for sure, especially with something like the Revolution 5 Pro. It has over 50 physical and software customization options allowing you to match your own play style.
Q) Back to your career, you’ve excelled in the competitive Fortnite scene, though you haven’t competed in a while. Do you miss the stress and rigors of competitive play, or is content creation where you feel you have greater success?
Lachlan: I think to be fair, in the content world the same stress and rigors can exist, you’ve got to constantly be thinking ahead, being creative, and innovating the way you do things to stay engaging for your audience and new fans, but it’s important to keep finding a balance to ensure you are enjoying what you do. While I’m definitely not a pro, I still find a way each season to try and compete in Cash Cups / FNCS, etc. even if it is just for content, I love trying to improve my gameplay and testing myself against the top players.
Q) You have a distinct voice and personality when it comes to content creators, without a doubt. You have also spent some time as a commentator/analyst for Rocket League in 2023. What inspired the choice, and did it bring with it any new, or interesting challenges compared to playing?
Lachlan: I love watching our PWR Pros and teams compete, so I’ve always enjoyed hosting watch parties / viewing parties which allows our community to feel like they are a part of the action. I think it’s a different way of doing content, but something I enjoy. It’s definitely easier being on the other side commentating/watching than playing, that’s for sure.
Q) As a content creator who has amassed a huge following, there are no doubt gamers who actively not only play Fortnite, but other online games, that would love to grow like you have. Do you have any advice for up-and-coming content creators?
Lachlan: I think start by setting little goals on what you want to achieve, and what kind of videos you want to make, and just start working on content you enjoy. Learn the fundamentals of content creation like; how to edit, how to make thumbnails, watch YouTube tutorials. I also recommend starting by creating short-form content (YouTube Shorts & TikTok, IG reels), and when you are ready to switch to long-form, start working on building a story for a longer video and work on concepts that are entertaining throughout for viewers.
Remember content should be enjoyable, don’t get too worried if one video doesn’t perform how you expected, just work on testing all sorts of metrics (length, narrative, game type, etc.) and you’ll find what works best for you!
Q) In recent months, you were revealed as their first signed gamer - a Nacon Signature Gamer. What did it mean to you to receive such a ringing endorsement?
Lachlan: Being named NACON's first signature gamer was very significant in my journey as a creator - it’s a globally renowned brand so that was very cool, and for PWR it has been pivotal for us to showcase how we can effectively support brands by creating engaging content that can reach gamers in an authentic way. Very appreciative of their ongoing support.
Q) As a user of a RIG headset and Nacon controller myself, I can attest to the incredible quality of the products. What do RIG/Nacon’s products bring to the table for you, when it comes to online gaming?
Lachlan: For me, having a really strong wireless headset is vital, I recently did a piece of content testing the range of the 900 Max which I use, and I was able to go upstairs and across the building. For me, range is vital for communication if I need to go grab food / multitask, etc. while I’m playing so I can still stay connected to my teammates and in-game audio while being mobile.
I also love the customization features and the sound profile is pretty amazing too. I love that with the R5P as well that it’s so easy to customize my gaming profile on it, so any game where my preference is controller, it makes it super easy to transition to, which I think sets it apart from a lot of other controllers out there.
Q) Lachlan, you’re a content creator with 15M followers on YouTube alone, so you know what it takes to create excellent online gaming content. Has there been any talk to you advising RIG/Nacon going forward, to help improve their products?
Lachlan: From our side, it's been cool to see the recognition and awareness of NACON and RIG grow as the partnership has unfolded. Seeing how our content is helping NACON achieve their goals is excellent and something we want to continue to focus on.
In addition, while NACON and RIG have all the technical assets and product knowledge; they’ve allowed us to have the opportunity to access products to trial before they are available for consumers and give feedback, which has been great to see how they incorporate this into their development and testing plans.
Q) Now that you’re partnered with RIG/Nacon, what does the future hold? Do you have any major plans or goals to shoot for in 2024/2025?
Lachlan: With any partnership, authenticity is pivotal to success, so it's about finding a balance that represents the brand goals and showcases the products in an organic setting whilst being entertaining.
I think we’ve managed to do that really well so far, and leading into 2024/25 we want to continue, to help NACON and RIG promote and launch new products (stay tuned), and showcase the versatility of the products and how they can be used!
We love that as a brand they allow us to have a lot of creative control and customize what we do for our audience.
We also had a chance to speak to RIG’s Gregory Morquin, who recruited Lachlan Power as a content creator for their brand. Our conversation was brief, but Gregory spoke about what makes Lachlan such a major player in the content creation world, and what they look for when it comes to adding more content creators to their brand in the future.
Bonus interview with RIG’s Gregory Morquin
Q) Earlier this year, you recruited Lachlan Power as a partnered content creator. What led to picking him - what does he bring that makes him a unique asset?
Gregory: The thing that really appealed to us about partnering with Lachlan was his genuine connection with the audience. His commitment to creating authentic content stood out amongst the crowd of content creators on YouTube. Witnessing firsthand the amount of effort he and the entire PWR team put into their videos is inspiring, and the desire to make sure every video and challenge Lachlan takes on is genuine really resonated with us
Q) Partnerships are an incredibly powerful way for up-and-coming content creators can grow - if a company believes in them, other people may wind up giving them a shot. What do you look for, when picking partners for your products? Is it all about their numbers, or are there other factors?
Gregory: While numbers play a part in choosing content creators we partner with, what’s more important to us is a creator’s values and goals aligning with our own. Instead of exclusively looking at which creators have the highest numbers, we’re more focused on who is developing meaningful content and displaying traits that will make them a great brand ambassador. We felt Lachlan and the entire PWR team perfectly aligned with our values, which is why we were so excited to partner with them.
Q) Though you are the Director of Global Business, it’s clear that you are passionate about the products your company creates. Do you use them in your downtime, and if so, what games are you particularly excited about playing?
Gregory: I wish I had my Gaming/Working time balance reversed! My guilty pleasure is Gran Turismo on PlayStation.
Q) While it’s great news for Lachlan and RIG/NACON to have this partnership, there’s never a good time to rest on your laurels - are there other content creators, or content creators in certain genres that you’re looking to speak to?
Gregory: We always have an eye on up-and-coming creators who could be a natural fit for our brand. With plenty of exciting plans for our products in the near future we’re constantly looking towards forging new partnerships that align with our values.
Lachlan Power can be found on his personal YouTube, the PWR YouTube channel, as well as on X.