A 78-year-old Scottish grandmother has earned a place in the Guinness World Records as the oldest female Fortnite streamer. Cath Bowie, originally from Moray and now residing in Inverurie, began playing the online battle royale game in 2017 and has amassed an audience of over 24,000 followers.
Bowie was introduced to Fortnite by her grandson and has since become a notable figure in the streaming community. She was included in the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2027 under her username, grumpygran1948. "No-one is ever too old to start gaming," Bowie stated.
Fortnite, a game developed by Epic Games, pits up to 100 players against each other in a fight to be the last one standing. Bowie described her initial encounter with the game as immediately captivating. "I was immediately hooked," she said.
Despite initial skepticism from her grandson about her ability to gain a following, Bowie was determined to prove him wrong. "Saying that was like a red rag to a bull to me. I would show him that I could do it," she recalled. "Twenty four thousand followers later and he doesn't mention it. I wonder why?"
Bowie plays Fortnite daily, enjoying the game's challenges and the social interaction it provides. "It's a lovely, lovely game," she told BBC Radio Scotland. She explained that the game mode she plays, Battle Royale Last Man Standing, involves players competing individually, in duos, or in squads to eliminate opponents. Bowie noted the game's lack of explicit violence, describing eliminations as obliterations without graphic detail.
She highlighted the importance of the gaming community, which includes players from the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. "It's super meeting all these folk. The chat we have, it's lovely - I've had folk with me for quite a few years now," Bowie said.
Alice Bell, editor of the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2027, commented on the inclusivity of gaming. "At Guinness World Records we believe gaming is for everyone," Bell said. "This edition showcases gamers of different generations and cultures from around the world."