But 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 safety concerns that have been raised, and how to help their children play safely. It's culturally huge, with a massive social media following (via video and streaming apps like YouTube and Twitch), so children might feel left out if they don't play.īecause of its frequent scenes of mild violence, Fortnite is rated 12+ by PEGI, Pan European Game Information.In-game currency - V-bucks - allows players to complete challenges for rewards.It is attractively designed and, with weekly updates and challenges, it's constantly evolving.Multiplayer games last up to 30 minutes, and players can quickly re-enter a new game, making long sessions extremely easy. The gameplay is simple but extremely immersive.It's free, and available on a huge range of devices - Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch, XBox One, PC, Mac, iOS and some Android devices too.To play, players to create an account by providing an email address, which they'll have to verify, and creating a username. But Fortnite’s most popular mode is its standalone free-to-play multiplayer platform, Fortnite Battle Royale, in which up to 100 players enter an online game, competing individually or as part of squads of up to four, to be the last player standing within a ever-decreasing battle arena. The single-player or co-operative mode (played with friends) involves fighting off zombie-like creatures. Violence is cartoonish, but some characters and scenes might disturb younger players. In Fortnite, players collaborate to survive in an open-world environment, by battling other characters who are controlled either by the game itself, or by other players. Here's our guide to the basics, and tips for encouraging children to play safely and in moderation.ĭigital parenting advice straight to your inboxĬlick here to sign up to our parents’ newsletter, packed with advice, resources, articles, activities and guides to the most popular apps and games Fortnite is still one of the most popular - and hotly-discussed - video games for tweens and up.

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