Cody Conrod, a 21-year-old competitive Fortnite player known as Clix, launched the Dr3amin Access Fund via his holding company, Full Box Inc., to provide gaming equipment to aspiring esports professionals. The initiative formalizes his annual holiday giveaway as hardware costs rise due to data center buildouts, the Associated Press reported.
Launching the Dr3amin Access Fund in New York
Competitive Fortnite player Cody Conrod launched a new holding company, Full Box Inc., which formally establishes the Dr3amin Access Fund. The Associated Press reported that the fund builds on Conrod’s previous holiday equipment giveaways that supplied hundreds of thousands of dollars in gear to young gamers. Conrod runs the initiative to help lower the financial barrier to entry for competitive gaming as hardware costs continue to climb.
Full Box Inc. is modeled after YouTube personality MrBeast’s media empire, encompassing Conrod’s clothing brand, a clipping agency, and a game studio. Conrod announced the launch of the holding company on a Thursday in New York.
Rising Hardware Costs Challenge Young Gamers
Acquiring competitive gaming equipment has become significantly more expensive. According to Joost van Dreunen, a games industry researcher and adjunct assistant professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business, massive data center buildouts have driven up the prices of computers, graphics processors, and memory chips. Van Dreunen noted that sub-$500 entry-level personal computers are increasingly difficult to find for players building their first setup.
Conrod recommends a computer configuration capable of handling at least 120 frames per second for GPU-intensive games like Fortnite. When Conrod began playing at age five, his family could not afford an expensive machine, forcing him to compete on a computer running at just 30 frames per second. He eventually secured a $1,600 computer after agreeing to a summer contract with his father’s plumbing business, paying off the cost with Fortnite earnings in two weeks.
Cody Conrod Drops Out After Earning Money
Conrod dropped out of school in the eighth grade after earning nearly $200,000 at the Fortnite World Cup. He stated that balancing 6 a.m. middle school classes with 6 p.m. tournament schedules left him exhausted, noting that reaction times in competitive play require players to be fully rested.
Van Dreunen pointed out that esports remains a difficult industry in which to make a living, with financial success concentrated heavily at the top and a lack of a healthy talent ecosystem. Both van Dreunen and Conrod highlighted a persistent social stigma surrounding competitive gaming as a legitimate career path. Conrod requires recipients of his equipment support to maintain good grades if they remain in school.
Cody Conrod Secures Fourth Place in Belgium
Conrod’s team secured fourth place and a $120,000 prize among 50 duos at the Fortnite Global Championship in Belgium. Among his competitors at the event was Joshreyli, a gamer who won a computer two years prior during the first-ever Clixmas when challenged to a one-on-one match. Conrod noted that Joshreyli has since earned six figures as a professional player.
Cody Conrod Launches Fund to Supply Gaming Gear
What is the Dr3amin Access Fund?
The Dr3amin Access Fund is an initiative launched by 21-year-old Fortnite professional Cody Conrod through his holding company, Full Box Inc., to provide gaming equipment to young and aspiring esports players.
Why are gaming computers becoming more expensive?
According to NYU Stern School of Business adjunct assistant professor Joost van Dreunen, massive data center buildouts have increased the costs of computers, memory chips, and graphics processors, making entry-level PCs harder to find.
How did Cody Conrod get his start in competitive gaming?
Conrod began playing video games at age five on a basic computer and later dropped out of school in the eighth grade after winning nearly $200,000 at the Fortnite World Cup.
Worth a look