Fortnite hype: what is my child playing there?

It is one of the most popular games at the moment: Millions of people play "Fortnite: Battle Royale" worldwide. The free online game is about being the last of 100 players to stay alive. Fortnite is currently a trend among children and adolescents. Fortnite is not particularly suitable for younger people.

How does Fortnite work?

"Fortnite: Battle Royale" is available in different game modes. Players can compete alone, in pairs, or in teams of four. The teams are either formed from known players or randomly assembled from strangers. The team members can exchange ideas and discuss strategies using a voice chat.

The gameplay is the same for all modes: In the beginning, all online players are in a virtual waiting room until they are randomly assigned to a game. A round starts with 100 opponents landing on an abandoned island. The goal is to prevail against your teammates and stay alive as the last player - if you play in a team, everyone wins together. Opponents are not shown on the overview map after landing on the island. The player must always be on guard against attacks. To survive, raw materials and equipment must be collected. With a pickaxe, building materials such as wood or stone are extracted. With the help of these raw materials, protective walls and entire forts can be erected to protect against enemy attacks. Players can also overcome cliffs or other obstacles with their own stairs and bridges. Guns and health kits are hidden in boxes and piñatas. Good equipment increases the chances of surviving against an opponent. Searching, hiding, and building are important parts of the game.

Not only the other players stand in the way of survival, but also cyclones that haunt the island. Whoever is in the eye of the storm loses a life. The playing area will continue to shrink until all remaining players meet in the middle of the island. A direct confrontation between lone fighters and teams is now usually forced. At the latest when the radius shrinks to a minimum, hiding doesn't help much anymore, and shooting at teammates is often unavoidable. The winner is the one who stays alive until the end.

Fortnite is designed for rounds: every game starts with the same material requirements for everyone. The winner of a round cannot secure any advantages for the next battle. However, points are awarded that can be invested in extensions such as "skins" or winning dances after some time. In addition to the skills in the game, such features are also an important status symbol among frequent gamers.

What are the risks?

Fortnite's gameplay is a survival shooter. The graphic design also makes the game appear childish and harmless. Weapons are not depicted realistically but are based on existing models. If players die, neither blood nor corpses are shown. They disintegrate much more and leave behind collected raw materials, weapons, and aids as prey for the winner. Inferiors can follow the further course of the game round after their departure from the perspective of their opponents or return to the waiting hall to start a new game.

Some game features can pose risks for children. For one, gun violence at Fortnite is often imperative to victory. Players can hide, avoid others, or have their team members shoot at opponents. In the long run, however, the game is designed for shooting. Another risk factor is in-game purchases. With a virtual currency, individual skins can be bought, i.e. your own character can be visually upgraded. Without these extensions, players start with new avatars every round. The recognition value through your own character and other features such as winning dances can have a great appeal for children. Since the virtual currency can only be earned slowly through progress in the game, the temptation to invest real money in such extensions is great.

Fortnite has an integrated chat function: players can get in touch with strangers from all over the world - without any form of moderation or protection mechanisms against unwanted and inappropriate comments and questions. Fighting against each other can easily offend and threaten. The equipment of the characters can be the cause of hostility. Who plays Fortnite in the start outfit is insulted as default. A term that has now sneaked into the everyday use of language by younger generations. Translated, it means “standard”. Fortnite means that the idea of ​​having expensive branded clothing to be cool in the peer group can be transferred from real life to the online world.

Age rating: Fortnite is not suitable for younger people

In order to better assess whether Fortnite is suitable for their own child, parents should get an idea of ​​the game. Either they test alone or if the child is already playing Fortnite, together as a family. Important aspects of an egg assessment are how well the child can separate fictional and real worlds and endure the tension in the game. The constant threat posed by a large number of opponents creates a great deal of tension. It is the attraction of the game, but can also be a lot of stress, especially for children. Younger people, especially those of primary school age, cannot always distance themselves from fictional content and are very involved in what is happening. The non-linear game structure could also overwhelm them. In addition, children should have learned before using Fortnite

Age ratings can serve as a guide. The entertainment software self-control (USK) has released "Fortnite" from the age of twelve. For “Fortnite: Battle Royale”, the game guide NRW specifies the minimum age of 14 years as an educational age recommendation.

Set up parental controls for Fortnite

Parents can set up parental controls at Fortnite. This allows you to activate settings that filter, for example, offensive language, switch off chat functions and restrict the visibility of game names. Parental controls for Fortnite are activated in the game lobby, where all users are before the start of around. For this, a confirmed email address must be linked to the gaming account. The parents can use a six-digit PIN to ensure that the settings made are not changed by the adolescents. It is important that parents choose a secure PIN and do not share it with their children.

Agree with media rules

Online games like Fortnite can create a real pull. The round principle gives the player the incentive to do better in the next round than before or to repeat his good game. If Fortnite is contested in the team, there is a certain pressure to play together as often as possible.

It is quite normal for the game to be particularly attractive to children at the beginning. In the long run, however, there should be a balance between playing and other hobbies and duties. If the child has difficulty finding this balance independently, it is advisable to agree on fixed usage times from the start. In games with a round principle like Fortnite, fixed time quotas can quickly lead to dissatisfaction. With older children, parents can agree that all homework and other commitments must be completed before Fortnite can be played - until dinner. The rules are best worked out and discussed in a joint discussion. They can end up in a contract like the media usage contract be held to give them even more commitment.