Eddie Benson and Joel Bestart, Co-Founders of Team Gauntlet, join the podcast to share the real story behind Kraken and how a small team built one of Fortnite’s most successful long-form UEFN experiences.

We unpack what happened before Kraken broke through, how early community feedback shaped the game, and why progression and retention mattered more than chasing short-term Discovery spikes. Eddie and Joel also break down how they divide responsibilities as a small studio, ship ambitious updates, and avoid spreading themselves too thin.

The conversation also dives into their Disney collaboration on Percy Jackson, what surprised them about working with a major IP, and how a three-person team handled expectations that felt closer to AAA than UGC. This episode is packed with honest lessons for creators, developers, and studios building inside Fortnite.

Guest and Studio Links

Eddie Benson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddiebenson/
X: https://x.com/zebs_fn

Joel Bestart
X: https://x.com/joelbestart

Team Gauntlet
X: https://x.com/studio_gauntlet
Discord: https://discord.gg/krakenbossfight
Website: https://gauntletfn.com/

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Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/@ImmatureG/podcasts
Twitter: www.x.com/immaturegamerx