As someone who started gaming when they were very young, I can understand how addicted kids can get to video games. Certain titles will resonate so much that kids can while away hours playing them. And parents can struggle to control the situation. Which is why Epic Games are introducing two new parental controls to Fortnite.
Epic Games Introduces Fortnite Time Limits for Kids
As announced in a post on the Epic Games Newsroom, Epic Games are introducing Time Limit Controls and Time Reports to Fortnite. Both are designed to help parents control when, and for how long, their children play Fortnite.
The Time Limit Controls mean that parents can set a time window within which their children can play Fortnite, and then set a limit on how much time within that window that they can play for. For example, they could be limited to playing for one hour between 3pm and 7pm every day.
The child playing Fortnite will be made aware that a time limit has been set, and see a warning when they have 30 minutes left. They will also be able to request more play time via email if the parent enables that setting.
The other element to this is Time Reports. These do what the name implies; allowing a parent or guardian to view reports detailing how long their child played Fortnite for on any given day. They can also see how much extra time they have awarded the child.
The Time Limit Controls and Time Reports apply to both Fortnite and Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN). It also works across multiple devices, preventing kids from simply logging in on another device to continue playing after their time runs out. That is as long as the child is using the same account across those multiple devices.
Your Kid Will Hate Having Their Fortnite Fun Curtailed
These new parental controls will be a welcome addition for parents everywhere who are worried about how long their little cherub is spending shooting other people in the face in an attempt to be the last person standing at the end of the game. However, kids are going to hate having their fun curtailed.
So, by all means, employ Fortnite time limits, and grant extra time if and when your child behaves. Just be prepared for the inevitable arguments, door-slamming, and cries of “I hate you!” that follow.
