Fortnite co-creator says the game's $26 billion+ success is "humbling" - especially since people "said we were crazy" at the start (2024)

FAQs

Why is Fortnite so bad for you? ›

With excessive gaming, chronic stress can cause your blood flow to veer away from the part of the brain where your thinking takes place. The blood will instead flow into the part of the brain that is used for survival which causes the nervous system to be consistently negatively affected.

The bottom line: Like other multiplayer games, Fortnite can expose your children to adult language, bullies, or even online predators. It pays to monitor your kids' gameplay and use parental controls to limit how, when, and how often they play.

Fortnite is a shooter game that's part of the battle royale game genre. Battle royale is combat among many players until only one remains. A 2022 study of Japanese students found that battle royale games were associated with aggressive feelings, a sense of underachievement, and gaming addiction.

Tim Sweeney is cofounder and CEO of Cary, North Carolina game developer Epic Games. The private company is the maker of Fortnite, one of the world's most popular games, with over 400 million players.

Fortnite also exposes young minds to sexualized character avatars who are often scantily clad and perform gyrating dance moves. This increase in sexual exposure for younger developing minds could lead a child towards violent behavior, a logical explanation to the addiction which is found in the game.

Fortnite age rating

You may have heard of younger kids playing the game with their friends (and maybe even pressuring your child to create an account). However, the Entertainment Software Rating Board rates Fortnite as suitable for teens. Common Sense Media recommends it for ages 13+.

Fortnite isn't child's play anymore. Disney is helping grown-up gamers find community in its expanding universe. Fortnite is no longer just for kids, if it ever was.

Gaming disorder is an addictive behavior that continues despite the occurrence of negative consequences. Young adults and teens are susceptible to developing a gaming disorder, especially with games online such as Fortnite.

Fortnite is a game where you can relax and have fun with friends. No narrative, no real goals other than to rank up and win games. With a lackluster "save the world" game mode which acts as a zombie survival shooter, Battle Royale has cemented itself as a fun and quick paced game that honest fun.

Common Sense recommends Fortnite for teens 13 and up, primarily because of the action violence. But with the right controls and parental guidance, this can be a preteen-friendly alternative to violent first-person shooters.

Why is Fortnite 12+? ›

Age restrictions

Violence is cartoonish, but some characters and scenes might disturb younger players. As with many games of this type, plenty of children younger than 12 are playing, so it's important that parents are aware of the risks and understand how to help their children play safely.

Fortnite effectively takes the best elements from existing game interfaces and storylines to weave them into one refined game. The game is also known for its funny character emotes and bright colors, which are particularly eye-catching and exciting for kids.

The youngest esports player to ever win $1million has now revealed the huge toll gaming has taken on his physical and mental health. Jaden Ashman, 20, has admitted that he was left 'frail', 'unhealthy' and suffering from 'a bit of a depression' after having become obsessed with Fortnite.

Leading Fortnite players worldwide 2024, by overall earnings

The game also has a sizeable eSports segment, and Kyle Giersdorf, also known as Bugha, is the most successful Fortnite eSports player with lifetime earnings from the game of almost 3.64 million U.S. dollars.

To put it simply, no, Elon Musk did not buy Fortnite. Fortnite remains under the ownership of Epic Games, the company that developed and released the game. Epic Games has been the sole proprietor since Fortnite's launch in 2017 and continues to manage all aspects of the game.

The Entertainment Software Ratings Board rates Fortnite “T” for teen, which means ages 13 and up. Common Sense Media, an Understood founding partner, also recommends the game for kids 13 and up, because of its action violence and open chat. This is a good starting point. However, you know your child best.

Fortnite has captivated the minds of many adolescents. Parents need to watch for symptoms of addiction, which include aggression, irritability, and fading interest in activities. It affects a teen's relationships with family and loved ones and can be isolating.

They may not like how matches can go by quickly, or maybe the weapons feel too off from the mechanics and controls they're already used to. Perhaps they're not one for the game's visual style and would prefer something a little more “realistic”.