Epic Games Reverses Fortnite Cosmetic Gating Decision Amidst Community Outrage
Epic Games responds to community backlash by revising Fortnite's cosmetic gating, seeking a lasting solution for players' concerns
Following the contentious Island Age Rating initiative in the Fortnite community, Epic Games has revealed that it will be scaling back the feature until a viable "long-term solution" is found.
The company made the announcement on the official Fortnite website, stating that cosmetic gating will be deactivated for most of the game's cosmetics starting with the v28.00 update on December 3rd. While a small number of existing cosmetics and less than 10 outfits will still be affected due to their "obvious fear or violence elements," the majority will no longer be impacted.
The implementation of the cosmetic gating measure coincided with the introduction of the Island Age Rating system, which assigned ESRB ratings to each user-generated experience in Fortnite Creative. If a map received an E or E10+ rating, certain costumes would be deactivated and replaced with a generic costume.
In the blog post that announced the update, it was mentioned that only "7%" of skins were impacted by the change, and that most of them would eventually be accessible for all age ratings. However, the Fortnite community was quick to criticize the rollout of this new initiative, with many expressing frustration over paid costumes being restricted as a result of the update.
The v28.00 update not only brings these changes, but also signifies the beginning of Fortnite Chapter 5, kicking off with the new live event, The Big Bang, on December 2. Speculations are swirling about the inclusion of rapper Eminem and a collaboration with Lego in the live event, as Lego responded to the event announcement with a Lego version of the Fortnite llama.
Fortnite is currently playable on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile devices.
Editor's P/S
As an enthusiastic fan of Fortnite, I am thrilled to see that Epic Games has responded to the community's concerns regarding cosmetic gating. The decision to scale back the feature and seek a long-term solution is a positive step towards addressing the frustration expressed by many players.
The initial implementation of cosmetic gating, which deactivated certain costumes based on the ESRB rating of user-generated experiences in Fortnite Creative, was met with backlash from the community. The fact that paid costumes were restricted as a result of this update was a major point of contention, and it's great to see that Epic Games has taken swift action to address this issue.
The upcoming v28.00 update, which will deactivate cosmetic gating for most of the game's cosmetics, is a welcome change. While a small number of existing cosmetics will still be affected, the majority of players will now have access to the full range of customization options, regardless of their age rating. This is a significant improvement and shows that Epic Games is listening to its player base and taking steps to ensure a positive gaming experience for all.
Overall, I am excited about the future of Fortnite and appreciate Epic Games' commitment to addressing community concerns. The upcoming Chapter 5, starting with the live event, The Big Bang, promises to bring even more exciting content and collaborations to the game. I can't wait to see what the future holds for Fortnite and am confident that Epic Games will continue to listen to and engage with its passionate player base.
