Fortnite, which began as a simple video game, has evolved into a social platform where millions of players gather to engage in Battle Royale matches or enjoy various other game modes. With its growing popularity, the need to moderate content that could be considered “problematic” or “toxic” has emerged. In response, Epic Games has implemented measures to ensure a more comfortable experience for all players.
Emotes, or emoticons, are an essential part of the Fortnite experience, allowing players to perform famous dances, recreate memes, movie scenes, and iconic character movements. Many players use them to taunt their opponents during matches, which can cause discomfort.
Recognizing this issue, Epic Games introduced a new feature that allows users to block certain emotes. This new feature was detailed in a post on the official Epic Games website, where the company announced the v29.39 update, scheduled for April 23. This update adds a setting in the options menu that enables players to block “confrontational gestures,” meaning emotes that may be considered controversial or offensive.
To activate this new function, players must open the pause menu, access the account settings, and select the Privacy tab. In this section, there will be a new option called “Show confrontational emotes.” There will be three options: always see, never see, or only see if a party member does it.
Players who choose to hide emotes with this setting will see characters using these emotes standing still and silent. Initially, this functionality will affect four specific emotes in Fortnite:
- Laugh It Up
- Take the L
- Whip Crack
- Go Ape
The emotes “Laugh It Up” and “Take the L” are often considered toxic because many players use them to mock opponents. The emotes “Whip Crack” and “Go Ape” can have racial connotations, especially after being used to mock a themed event honoring Martin Luther King Jr. It is unclear if Epic Games plans to expand this list of blockable emotes in the future.
As expected, fan reactions were mixed. Many players and content creators expressed their criticisms on social media, viewing the measure as excessive. “What’s the point? Who gets offended by an emote?” questioned one fan. “So many people cry over emoticons. This is the worst idea for Fortnite. If people can’t handle someone doing a toxic gesture, then don’t play,” commented another player.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time Epic Games has restricted content in Fortnite. Recently, the company also faced criticism for restricting some skins.
NoPing is a tool that offers numerous benefits for Fortnite players, especially those facing latency and connection issues. Utilizing advanced route optimization technology, NoPing significantly reduces ping, providing a smoother and lag-free gaming experience. This is crucial in competitive games like Fortnite, where response speed can determine the outcome of a match. Additionally, NoPing helps stabilize the connection, preventing disconnections and FPS drops that can hinder performance during critical moments in the game. With an easy-to-use interface and support for a wide range of servers, NoPing is an effective solution for players looking to improve their performance and enjoy a more pleasant and competitive gaming experience.
For more news, click here.
