Epic Games has responded to fan feedback, acknowledging that the recent island-based age rating system in Fortnite fell short of expectations. The controversial system, implemented just last week, assigned ESRB-style ratings to individual islands within the game. The initial intention, as stated by Epic, was to assist parents and players in making informed decisions about the multitude of games and experiences within Fortnite.
However, the execution faced criticism, particularly because certain in-game cosmetics, including some purchased by players, were incompatible with the assigned E (Everyone) or E10+ ratings. Essentially, this meant that Teen-rated cosmetics could not be used in islands with an E rating, automatically being replaced by items suitable for the island’s assigned rating. Despite only 7% of Fortnite outfits carrying the Teen rating, the backlash was substantial.
Some critiques focused on the inconsistency, noting that certain characters, like the “swole cat” Meowscles, were restricted to higher-rated islands, while characters like the infamous Michael Myers, a psycho mass murderer, had no such limitations. Given that Fortnite itself carries a Teen rating, the introduction of E-rated islands raised eyebrows.
For some players, the issue extended beyond specific cosmetic restrictions, with concerns about the perceived shift in Fortnite’s direction. One Reddit user likened it to the “Roblox-ification” of Fortnite, suggesting that Epic was overly fixated on emulating the success of other mega-games.
Responding to the feedback, Epic Games announced a reversal or modification of its plan. The official Fortnite account tweeted, “Welp, our plan for cosmetics with the ratings update didn’t hit the mark. We’re working on a few new options that we hope to have in place for say… some sort of big in-game event. Stay tuned, we’ll keep you posted <3”
While specific details about the changes are yet to be disclosed, the response from fans has been overwhelmingly positive. The reassurance that Epic is actively addressing concerns and the promise of new options coinciding with a “big in-game event” has generated excitement among the player base. Dataminers have previously hinted at a multi-stage live event called The Big Bang concluding Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 5, scheduled to commence on December 2.
