Ever since its inception, Fortnite has grown to become more than just a game. Some call it the earlier version of the metaverse, while others call it the game that is at the forefront of pop- culture today. The game is at its all-time peak with millions of players playing the game at any given point, and with that comes concerns for the safety of the players. Epic Games is aware that Fortnite has a young player base and in the upcoming updates, they are focusing on safety.

The devs have announced two new features that will ensure better safety from online bullying, scamming, and harassment. While these features will be mandatory for players under 18, adult gamers will have the option of toggling them according to preference.

Fortnite’s Voice Reporting Feature

Fortnite’s latest update brings a crucial enhancement to player reporting with the introduction of voice reporting. Players can now submit audio evidence when reporting inappropriate behavior in voice chat, addressing issues such as bullying, harassment, and discrimination. Users can capture the last five minutes of voice chat on a rolling basis. This feature provides a snapshot of recent interactions.

Importantly, this audio data is securely stored on individual devices (gaming consoles, PCs) rather than on Epic Games servers. When a conversation is reported, the captured voice chat audio from the last five minutes is uploaded for Epic moderators to review. Older audio is automatically deleted as new data is captured, ensuring relevance and privacy.

Players aged 18 and over can tailor their voice reporting preferences in the main Fortnite settings. Options include “Always On” for continuous voice reporting or “Off When Possible” for selective activation in specific party scenarios.

Players under 18 automatically have voice reporting on, with the option to mute themselves or turn off voice chat if desired. Parental controls in the Epic Account Portal empower parents to manage voice chat permissions for their children. The “Off When Possible” setting influences voice reporting in party channels, but game channels always have voice reporting active.

Island Age Rating in Fortnite

Every Island published in Fortnite will now feature its own age and content rating, effective immediately. The objective is to assist parents and players in making well-informed decisions about the diverse range of games and experiences available within Fortnite. Each Fortnite island will prominently display its age and content rating, aiming to offer guidance to users, helping them assess the suitability of specific islands for their age group. The announcement provides illustrative examples of islands with ESRB E (Everyone) and ESRB T (Teen) ratings.

Fortnite offers a vast array of cosmetics for all experiences. However, a subset of these cosmetics may not align with E or E10+ (or equivalent) game ratings. In response, a new icon will be visible in both the Locker and the Item Shop, which serves to highlight outfits and accessories that are not suitable for islands falling below a specific rating threshold. If a player equips items that are incompatible with a specific island’s rating and then joins that island, the equipped items will visually adapt. For instance, an outfit incompatible with the island’s rating will appear as a default outfit.

Read More – Fortnite Lore: Why Is the Ice Biome in OG Season 7 So Small Compared to Chapter 1?

Parents and guardians gain enhanced control through Epic’s Parental Controls to set age rating limits based on family preferences. Parents can also unlock specific islands that exceed their set rating threshold by using their Parental Controls PIN.

With the implementation of voice reporting and age ratings, Fortnite aims to create a safer and more accountable gaming environment, empowering players to contribute to the community’s well-being.

Watch This Story: Fortnite Legend Ninja Released a Clarification Message Post His Comments on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3