Is Fortnite really a dangerous video game for children?

“Can I play Fortnite?”If you have not already heard it from your child, this question can soon be asked on the way back from school where his friends will have praised the qualities of this video game which brings together today350 million online accounts worldwide.And if you do not yet know the principles, discovering them can worry you about the impact that would have this game using weapons and violence on your son or daughter.Are your fears justified?Let's dig a little to find out more about this phenomenon that shakes the planet and the Internet.

Fortnite: What exactly is it?

Developed and distributed by the American company Epic Games, the Fortnite video game officially was created in July 2017 on Windows, MacOS, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.The principle ?The world is invaded by zombies, 98% of the population has disappeared and you must find the survivors to put them in safety, resist attacks of the living dead and explore this hostile universe in order to collect resources that will help you defend yourself andto build a fort which will serve as much shelter as a strategic post to face the enemy.Entitled Save the World, this Fortnite mode is as much a construction game as of shooting, all in cooperation.He indeed asks the players (up to 4)) to work in a team and take advantage of everyone's qualities in order to push monsters and create a place where humans will be safe, while fighting together the hordes when thesehave decided to attack your group or camp.Fortnite Save the World is an online paid game whose price has been a great deal since its release (40 € against around 15 € for the packs offered today)), certainly to compensate for the international popularity of its second free mode, the one whose whoseChildren and adolescents are so followers: Fortnite Battle Royale.

Two months after the release of Fortnite Save The World, the Epic Games studio has indeed unveiled a new mode called Battle Royale.This is part of the same very "cartoon" universe of its predecessor but does not have the same goal.He puts in competition a hundred online players on an island where they will have to kill each other to survive.For those who would know, this version is inspired by the eponymous novel by Kōshun Takami, adapted to the cinema in 2000, and featuring high school students called to fight against each other until only one of themsort of.A frame also used in the famous Hunger Games saga.

Zoom on Fortnite Battle Royale

Distributed free of charge on PC, Mac, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch then Smartphone and Tablet (iOS and Android)), Fortnite Battle Royale is an immediate and dazzling success.In 2018, one year after its release, the video game already listed 125 million accounts and in May 2020, Epic Games declared 350 million recorded accounts, which does not mean that there are so many players since having an account does not wantsay to be active on the game, and that the same person can have several accounts.Because their objectives are not at all the same (protect the rest of humanity and eliminate all other players in order to be the last survivor)), Save the World and Battle Royale can appear as completely different games.However, these two modes actually share much more than their offbeat and colorful graphics.They allow in particular to connect players from all countries and all ages, ask them to explore an environment strewn with pitfalls but also full of hidden resources such as weapons, building materials (metal brick wood)), tools, care, etc..and use the speed as much as to dexterity, the ability to develop strategies and to the team spirit.Depending on the capacity of the playful (s)) to survive, a game can last between 5 and 20 minutes only.

If Battle Royale describes himself as a competitive survival game, he can be played solo but also in a team of 2 (duo mode which involves 50 teams of 2)), 3 (trio mode: 33 teams of 3 players)) and 4Players (Section Mode opposing 25 teams)).Finally, the game is certainly based on the elimination of competitors but, the graphics helping, the violence strictly speaking remains very moderate: the character manipulates the weapons and directs his attacks towards other players but never without bloodshed orof “death” clearly represented through the body of the player who lost.

What is the official minimum age to play Fortnite Battle Royale?

Like all video games, Fortnite has a classification to identify the population category for which it is mainly intended and indicating the age below which it is not advised.In Europe, the standard in force is called PEGI, for Pan European Game Information, and its logo is followed by the minimum recommended age as well as the elements justifying this classification.The game of Epic Games bears the mention PEGI 12 which therefore means that it is not recommended for players under 12 years old.Why ?Because of his frequent scenes of moderate violence.The equivalent of this reference to the United States is decided by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)) and the organization ranked Fortnite as accessible to adolescents over 13 years old.

However, these are only simple recommendations and not prohibitions as may be the case for movies in the cinema.This is why, the players of Fortnite Battle Royale can be much younger and that it is not uncommon to see children still in primary followers of the game.Thus, each parent should be observed or not to respect these advice and to estimate that their offspring is mature enough to integrate this universe.Once again, the quirky spirit, the graphics that voluntarily decide with reality and the absence of blood distinguish this mode of other video games in the same category such as Battlefield (Pegi 16)), and help to play down the stakeof this royal battle and the means used to achieve its ends.However, like all games, even a company, failure can cause frustration and stress.The real risks linked to Fortnite Battle Royale actually reside elsewhere.

What should be wary if your child plays Fortnite?

The paid options-Fortnite Battle Royale is therefore a game distributed in free-to-play, that is to say that it is free and can be downloaded free from the Epic Games site or the blinds of the various supports(Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android)) at no cost but after having created an account with the publisher (recording which does not ask for the age of the player)).The registrants will have access to the characters, cards and basic options.But if the latter wishes to personalize his avatar and provide it with weapons and special functions, or even access certain islands or ephemeral specificities launched with each new season, we will have to pay!As the PEGI ranking specifies, Fortnite has an online integrated purchasing system and therefore requires vigilance.The game presents a virtual currency, the V-Bucks, which can be used to buy “skins”, that is to say outfits and other cosmetic objects to modify the appearance of his character, “emotes”(Victory dances, popular in real life, such as the famous Floss or the Take The L of which footballer Antoine Griezmann was a fan)), as well as cards and challenges.The currency may be virtual, it corresponds to very real sums: 1,000 v-bucks equivalent to € 9.99 and this amount can unlock one of the most common outfits, the rarest that can go up to the double.

The trap of these purchases is in the fact that the game and its personalization options are renewed each season (which can last from 70 to 140 days)) with each its theme.This seasonality therefore creates a phenomenon of rarity of certain items and skins whose availability is limited time.Fortnite Battle Royale therefore invites you to regularly acquire new accessories and therefore spend money.In 2018, an American study had looked at the subject and had revealed that 68.8% of players surveyed had already spent money in the free game for an average sum of 84.67 dollars (about € 72)).The budget can quickly reach several hundred euros over a year.It should therefore be defined immediately with your child or block the purchase option thanks to parental control.

The cat - another potential danger of the Battle Royale mode of Fortnite: the possibility of interacting by written message or directly via the microphone with the other players.In addition to his playmates when he chooses to play by team, your child will therefore be able to chat with all the other players in the game who can be much older than him and ill -intentioned.If adults will take a step back from a derogatory comment, the youngest can be particularly vulnerable there.It is possible to block communication by microphone as well as messages containing vocabulary not suitable for a child thanks to parental control.Conversely, online games are also known to create communities and friendships between players and Fortnite is one of those tools that the young generations affect to meet new people and make friends.

How to protect and support your child on Fortnite?

Establish a confidence and limits pact - it is up to you to set the rules concerning the frequency and duration dedicated to this game for your child (one hour on certain days, especially on weekends, etc..)).The Battle Royale mode operating in relatively short parts, the limit can be estimated in number of daily sessions, even if it can mean only 40 minutes of play or more than an hour.A good way to keep an eye on your video-play activity is to favor the game in the living room, while you are not far away.This geographic proximity not only makes it possible to monitor the child's reactions, to be quickly present if it is exposed to words which make him uncomfortable or must alert but also to see his parts and exchange with him tothis subject.Finally, if you grant a budget to his activity, ask him to show you the skins and emotes he would like to have and proceed to their purchase while doing the accounts.Explain to him that the virtual currency used in the game corresponds to very real money and that it must be used with caution.

Activate parental control to limit risks - available on all media exploiting the game, Fortnite parental control makes it possible to limit the exposure of the youngest to content that could shock them, in particular via the internal cat.Thanks to a command panel accessible only thanks to a password that parents will keep for them, they can notably choose to limit interactions with only teammates when the child plays in collaborative mode, to ban messages with sensitive vocabulary, not to publicly display the name of the player or leave accessible his associated account.They will also be able to block integrated purchases.This parental control can be reinforced via the control system specific to each platform (PlayStation, Nintendo, Xbox, Windows 10, iOS, Google Play)).

Alert in the face of inappropriate comments and behaviors - whether for Fortnite or any activity on the Internet, it is always better to have a discussion with your child concerning the potential dangers to which he can be exposed, even while remaining careful.Teach him good practices: not to take place to strangers, do not give personal information, do not send photos, do not click on certain links, alert an adult in the event of inapprorful content, etc..In addition, inappropriate content and behaviors can be reported directly in the game menu.

Faire une partie (ou plusieurs)) en famille - Le meilleur moyen de dissiper vos craintes et de savoir de quoi parle votre enfant reste de le découvrir par vous-même.There are many videos on youtube on youtube, commented by players.Very popular they serve mainly of tactics inspiration for participants but also represent good trailers for parents who wish to know more about this universe and what a player sees and lives.And even if you are not at all fan of video games, make the effort to test a game with your child.He will surely be delighted to teach you the rules, techniques and strategies he has acquired himself.You may not become a follower like him, but at least you will understand it when he tells you about the game and this common point can only strengthen your links.In order not to make Fortnite a source of conflict at home, communication, without a priori or judgments but with patience and transparency, is key.