Although the game is free-to-play, users are encouraged to purchase V-Bucks (a virtual currency) or pay monthly to access features such as ‘skins’ (changing the way the player character looks). Players can turn off personalised messages from Fortnite about items to buy.
Fortnite does have parental controls available to help manage your child’s access to features such as accepting or sending friend requests, who they can voice and text chat with, filtering mature language in text chat, controlling the ability to purchase within the game, and setting time limits. Parents can restrict younger children’s access to Fortnite experiences rated for older ages, and disable ‘Creative Mode’ in which players design games and experiences with other users. Parents can also restrict their child from chatting with AI non-playable characters (such as a computer character that is a companion, boss or guard in the game). These controls can be accessed via the Epic Account Portal and from within the Fortnite Parental Controls menu. There are also parental controls available on the gaming platforms you can play Fortnite on e.g. Playstation, for example to prevent voice chat on the platform.
Fortnite’s safety features include the ability to manage who to chat with, play with and accept gifts from. Players can report text and voice chat as well as blocking, muting and reporting another player.
