Myth 1: “Fortnite is Just a Violent Shooting Game”
The Reality:
Yes, Fortnite involves shooting, but it's cartoonish, non-gory graphics make it far less violent than many other popular games. The game emphasizes strategy, teamwork, and problem-solving far more than aggression. Fortnite is a "Battle Royale" game, but there's no blood or hyper-realistic violence.
Why It’s a Good Thing:
Instead of focusing on violence, Fortnite promotes collaboration and communication between players. Children have to work together with teammates to complete objectives, encouraging valuable social skills like coordination, cooperation, and leadership. Read more about Fortnite on the official Epic Games page.
Myth 2: “My Child Will Become Addicted”
The Reality:
It’s easy to worry about screen time, but it’s important to distinguish between interest and addiction. Most children play Fortnite for entertainment and social interaction with friends, not because they’re “addicted.” Setting clear time limits and boundaries can prevent any excessive use.
Why It’s a Good Thing:
Fortnite is full of timed events, challenges, and new content drops that keep it engaging. By understanding these dynamics, you can work with your child to create a balanced schedule that accommodates their gaming interests while keeping other important activities (like schoolwork and family time) on track.
Learn more about managing screen time and parental controls for Fortnite here.
Myth 3: “Fortnite is All About Spending Money on Skins”
The Reality:
While Fortnite does have in-game purchases like skins and cosmetics, these don’t provide any competitive advantage. They’re purely aesthetic, which means they don’t impact gameplay or make one player stronger than another.
Why It’s a Good Thing:
This can be a great opportunity to teach your child about budgeting and responsible spending. Have conversations about when and why they might want to spend money on the game and set clear rules on in-game purchases. Plus, you can play Fortnite entirely for free without ever buying anything.
Learn more about what parents need to know about Fortnite in this review from Common Sense Media.
Myth 4: “Fortnite Will Make My Child Anti-Social”
The Reality:
Far from isolating children, Fortnite is a social game at its core. Most kids play in teams or with friends, using voice chat to communicate and coordinate strategies. It’s a digital hangout spot for kids, where they can connect with peers in a shared activity.
Why It’s a Good Thing:
By playing with others, children develop communication skills, teamwork, and the ability to collaborate under pressure. You might even encourage your child to invite friends over to play in person for a mix of digital and physical socializing.
Here’s a deeper look into the educational value of video games.
Myth 5: “Fortnite is a Waste of Time”
The Reality:
Gaming, including Fortnite, can actually help develop several cognitive and social skills. From spatial awareness and reaction time to problem-solving and critical thinking, Fortnite challenges players in ways that are mentally stimulating. Beyond that, Fortnite Creative allows players to build their own worlds, tapping into design, architecture, and coding skills.
Why It’s a Good Thing:
Fortnite has a lot more to offer than just entertainment. With Epic Games’ Creative Mode and the introduction of Unreal Engine tools, kids can even learn game design and technology skills that could lead to future careers in tech. Imagine Fortnite being the spark that gets your child interested in game development or graphic design!
Check out the Unreal Engine Learning Portal for more on this.
PS! Do not forget that...
To get even more positive out of gaming and Fortnite, please do remember that School of Gaming organizes weekly Fortnite sessions for children and adolescents on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The playing sessions are run by our professional game-educators ensuring fun, safe and memorable gaming moments for gamers.