A parent's guide to Fortnite, including voice chat, in-game spending, and Epic Games' parental control settings.
Fortnite is a hugely popular free online battle-royale game where up to 100 players fight to be last standing, with voice chat and social events.
Official age
12+
We recommend
12+
Developer
Epic Games
Risks
4
Fortnite is a hugely popular online battle royale game where up to 100 players compete to be the last one standing. It features colourful, cartoon-style graphics and regular content updates that keep players engaged. The game is free to play but has an extensive in-game store selling cosmetic items for V-Bucks, its virtual currency.
Children play solo, with friends, or in squads with strangers in fast-paced battle royale matches. Voice chat is used extensively to coordinate with teammates. Many children are drawn to collecting skins and cosmetic items, which drives in-game spending. The game's social aspect is a major part of its appeal.
Voice Chat
Location: Epic Games Parental Controls → Voice Chat
Set to: Friends Only (or Off for younger children)
Prevents your child from hearing or speaking with strangers during matches. Friends-only mode limits voice chat to their friend list.
Text Chat
Location: Epic Games Parental Controls → Text Chat
Set to: Friends Only
Limits in-game text communication to approved friends, preventing strangers from messaging your child during play.
Purchase Controls
Location: Epic Games Parental Controls → Require PIN for Purchases
Set to: PIN required for all purchases
Requires a four-digit PIN before any V-Bucks purchase can be made, giving you control over all in-game spending.
Weekly Playtime Reports
Location: Epic Games Parental Controls → Playtime Reports
Set to: Enabled
Sends you a weekly email summary of how much time your child has spent playing, helping you monitor screen time.
Set up Epic Games parental controls with a PIN, restricting voice chat and requiring approval for purchases
Time: 10 minutes
Remove saved payment methods from both the Epic Games account and the console's store
Time: 5 minutes
Agree clear boundaries about play time, especially on school nights, and use playtime reports to monitor usage
Time: 10 minutes
In immediate danger: call 999. For non-emergency police matters, call 101.
Concerned about a child but it's not an emergency? NSPCC helpline 0808 800 5000. Childline for young people 0800 1111.
Myth: Fortnite is cartoonish, so it’s fine for young children.
Fact: The bigger issues than the stylised combat are open voice chat with strangers and relentless pressure to spend on V-Bucks and battle passes. Restrict voice chat to friends and lock down spending.
Myth: The spending is optional and small.
Fact: Fortnite’s store is designed to encourage frequent purchases and costs add up. Require approval for every purchase and remove saved payment methods.
Full conversation guides: gaming safety talk, first smartphone talk