How Old Do You Have to Be to Play Fortnite?

Are you curious about diving into the vibrant, action-packed world of Fortnite but unsure if you’re old enough to join the fun? With its colorful graphics, engaging gameplay, and global popularity, Fortnite has captured the hearts of gamers young and old. However, like any popular game, it comes with its own set of guidelines and age restrictions that players need to be aware of. In this blog, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the age requirements for playing Fortnite, ensuring you or your young gamer can enjoy the game safely and responsibly. Let’s get started!

How Old Do You Have to Be to Play Fortnite?

Differentiating Between Gametypes

Parents need to be aware of the diverse range of game types in Fortnite. For example, LEGO Fortnite is suitable for ages 7 and up, reflecting a more child-friendly approach to gameplay. On the other hand, Rocket Racing is rated PEGI 3, making it appropriate for all ages.

Understanding the specific content and ratings of these game types helps parents make informed decisions, ensuring that the selected game aligns with their child’s age and maturity level. Although Fortnite Save the World has the same PEGI 12 rating, it contains additional elements of threat and peril, making the age distinction crucial.

Parental Controls and Safety Guidelines

Fortnite offers a comprehensive suite of parental controls to help parents manage their child’s gaming experience. By implementing these controls, parents can control various aspects of the game, from restricting friend requests to disabling voice chat.

These features are designed to uphold Fortnite’s safety guidelines and ensure a safer gaming environment. Furthermore, filtering mature language and setting limitations on in-game purchases are essential parts of these controls, which provide extensive parental guidance for Fortnite.

Voice chat in Fortnite can sometimes expose young players to unmoderated dialogue. Therefore, restricting this feature is crucial for maintaining a safe and age-appropriate gaming experience.

Moreover, Fortnite accounts designated for players under 18 come with enhanced privacy settings enabled by default, and additional restrictions are automatically applied to players under 13 years old. This robust framework reinforces the platform’s commitment to younger players’ protection.

1. Restricting friend requests
2. Disabling voice chat
3. Filtering mature language
4. Setting in-game purchase limitations

These measures are crucial in ensuring safety guidelines in Fortnite are followed and providing comprehensive parental guidance for Fortnite. Parents are strongly encouraged to utilise these parental controls to safeguard their children’s gaming experiences.

Understanding Fortnite’s Age Ratings

Understanding the different age ratings for Fortnite is essential for parents aiming to ensure their children’s gaming experience is both enjoyable and safe. Both the UK and US have specific guidelines and ratings designed to help parents make informed decisions regarding the age requirement for Fortnite.

PEGI Ratings in the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the Pan European Game Information (PEGI) meticulously evaluates Fortnite’s various games. These age ratings are vital in guiding parents to understand the appropriate age for their children to start playing. Both the widely popular games Fortnite Battle Royale and Fortnite Save the World have been designated with a PEGI 12 rating. This rating indicates that the game contains moderate violence but no graphic depictions of blood or injury.

ESRB Ratings for the United States

Meanwhile, in the United States, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) provides a Teen rating for Fortnite, which aligns with PEGI’s assessment. The ESRB Teen rating signifies that Fortnite is suitable for teenagers, as the game encompasses elements deemed inappropriate for younger children. Both rating systems highlight the importance of parental oversight, especially considering the potential for interaction with the online community. It’s crucial for parents to be aware of the Fortnite age restriction and the availability of parental controls to manage their child’s gaming environment effectively.

Fortnite Battle Royale: The Age Rating

Fortnite Battle Royale’s PEGI 12 rating is primarily attributed to its depiction of moderate violence. This rating indicates that the game’s content is considered suitable for children aged 12 and over. Players engage in combat scenarios without any realistic portrayals of blood or injury, resulting in a gameplay experience that resembles action cartoon violence rather than explicit gore.

PEGI 12: What It Means?

The PEGI 12 rating gives parents insight into what their children might experience while playing Fortnite Battle Royale. This classification warns that the game contains non-realistic violence towards human-looking characters, ensuring that younger children are shielded from inappropriate content. The PEGI 12 definition also factors in the online multiplayer aspect of the game, as interactions with other players could expose children to unmonitored dialogues.

Additionally, the Fortnite player age limit suggested by this rating helps parents decide if their children are mature enough to handle the exposure to certain in-game elements. The lack of realistic injury depiction contributes significantly to why the game isn’t rated higher than PEGI 12.

Why Moderate Violence is Included?

The term moderate violence in Fortnite encompasses the combat-centric nature of the game, where players use various in-game weapons to eliminate opponents. Despite the violent activities, the absence of graphic content such as blood or detailed injuries allows the game to maintain its PEGI 12 rating. This level of violence is considered appropriate for teenagers and older, as it aligns with the understandings of fantasy conflict without severe physiological consequences.

Moreover, the interactive environment, including voice and text chat, adds another layer to the game’s complexity. Considering these elements, the PEGI 12 rating helps delineate the Fortnite player age limit, advising that the presence of moderate violence requires thoughtful parents to supervise their children’s gaming experiences.

The Age Rating for Fortnite Save the World

Fortnite Save the World is another popular mode in the Fortnite universe, earning a PEGI 12 rating just like Fortnite Battle Royale. This co-operative mode centres around defending against waves of monsters, introducing a blend of combat and strategy. While the age rating does not exceed PEGI 12, some specific gameplay elements add a layer of threat and intensity that parents should be mindful of when considering the playing Fortnite age limit.

Content and Gameplay Elements

In Fortnite Save the World, players work together to combat in-game creatures, creating a dynamic environment that focuses heavily on cooperative play. The PEGI 12 content includes moderate violence in the form of fighting against these monsters, yet it avoids graphic details like blood or fatal injuries. The game’s strategic elements, such as fort-building and resource management, make it intellectually engaging, projecting a different kind of excitement compared to Fortnite Battle Royale.

Threat and Peril: A Closer Look

What sets Fortnite Save the World apart is the added sense of threat that comes with battling monstrous entities. This heightens the peril factor, which is managed carefully within the PEGI 12 guideline. Although the threat in Fortnite might seem intense at times, it remains within the boundaries of suitable content for players aged 12 and up, making it crucial for parents to understand these nuances when setting the playing Fortnite age limit for their child.

Understanding In-Game Purchases

In-game purchases are an essential part of Fortnite’s experience, allowing players to customise their avatars and access exclusive items. The game’s virtual currency, V-Bucks, plays a crucial role in facilitating these transactions. Players can purchase V-Bucks using real money and then use them within the game to buy cosmetics, emotes, and other virtual goods.

Managing V-Bucks and Spending

Effectively managing V-Bucks is vital for preventing unnecessary spending. Parents should familiarise themselves with how Fortnite in-game purchases work. It’s advisable to set limits on the amount of V-Bucks purchased and to monitor spending habits regularly. Discussing purchase decisions with their children can make them more mindful about spending virtual currency wisely.

Parental Control PINs

To safeguard against unauthorised purchases, Fortnite offers Parental Control PINs. This feature adds an extra layer of security, requiring a PIN to authorise any in-game purchase. Setting up and regularly updating the Parental Control PINs in Fortnite ensures parents maintain better control over their child’s in-game spending, thereby averting unexpected charges.

Implementing these measures enables a balanced and controlled approach to managing V-Bucks and Fortnite in-game purchases, promoting a safer and more enjoyable gaming experience for young players.

Conclusion

Understanding the age ratings for the various gaming modes within Fortnite is crucial for parents looking to make informed decisions about their children’s gaming activities. With the game’s popularity growing globally, it’s important to be aware of the Fortnite player age limit and the guidelines set by both the Pan European Game Information (PEGI) and the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). These ratings provide essential insights into the content and suitability of the game for younger players.

FAQ

Why is Fortnite rated for moderate violence?

Fortnite’s moderate violence rating is due to its combat elements, where players engage in fights without blood or realistic injury. The violence is more akin to action cartoon violence rather than explicit gore, making it relatively mild compared to more mature games.

What does ‘Threat and Peril’ mean in Fortnite Save the World?

‘Threat and Peril’ in Fortnite Save the World refers to the combat scenarios where players face off against monstrous creatures, adding an element of danger beyond the typical player versus-player combat in Fortnite Battle Royale. This contributes to the intensity of the gameplay but does not elevate the rating above PEGI 12.

What parental controls are available in Fortnite?

Fortnite offers various parental controls to manage a child’s gaming experience. Parents can restrict friend requests, disable voice chat, filter mature language, and set limitations on in-game purchases. Fortnite accounts for under-18s come with privacy settings enabled by default, providing added protection.

How can parents manage in-game purchases in Fortnite?

Parents can manage in-game purchases in Fortnite using Parental Control PINs. This feature requires a PIN for any in-game purchases, allowing parents to prevent unauthorized spending and manage the financial aspects of the game more effectively.

What are the different game types in Fortnite and their age ratings?

Fortnite Battle Royale and Fortnite Save the World both have a PEGI 12 rating. LEGO Fortnite and Rocket Racing have lower age ratings, suitable for ages 7 and up and PEGI 3 respectively.

What does the PEGI 12 rating for Fortnite Battle Royale mean?

The PEGI 12 rating indicates moderate violence without graphic depictions of blood or injury. It suggests that the game is suitable for teenagers and older players.

What is the significance of the PEGI 12 rating for Fortnite Save the World?

Fortnite Save the World also has a PEGI 12 rating, focusing on cooperative gameplay against monsters with elements of threat and peril.