Fortnite has partnered with the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) to bring internationally recognisable age and content ratings to all first and third-party playable content as of today, November 14th 2023. All experiences on Fortnite will now require a rating between E for everyone to Teen.
The IARC rating system allows parents and players to make conscientious decisions regarding which experiences are right for them. It provides guidance from the standard rating system for their location, such as the ESRB in North America and PEGI in Europe. Fortnite aims to make the metaverse a safer place by implementing the rating system.
Upon its launch, parents can restrict their child’s access to Fortnite locations by setting content age rating limits. Additionally, parents can unlock specific islands that exceed the rating limit they impose by entering their Parental Control PIN. Parents will also be able to toggle their child’s ability to design games in Creative Mode. To modify parental controls, parents should visit the Epic Account Portal.
“By implementing the IARC rating system within Fortnite, Epic continues to elevate its commitment to providing families with tools to make informed decisions about which experiences are appropriate for their children,” says Patricia Vance, president of ESRB and chairperson of IARC. “As Fortnite evolves from its Battle Royale roots into a broader ecosystem containing a variety of content from Epic and other creators, it’s especially important that parents have a clear understanding of what their children want to access.”
Creators Must Complete an IARC Questionnaire
Third-party creators will now need to fill out the IARC content rating questionnaire before submitting their island for publishing. Creators will receive an age-based IARC rating as well as region-specific ratings from IARC-participating rating authorities after completing the questionnaire. Each experience’s rating will be displayed before a player can access them.
Fortnite released the IARC questionnaire on October 16th. Creators who fail to fill out the questionnaire by today – November 14th – will have their experiences delisted.
Jack Brassell is a freelance journalist and aspiring novelist. Jack is a self-proclaimed nerd with a lifelong passion for storytelling. As an author, Jack writes mostly horror and young adult fantasy. Also an avid gamer, she works as the lead news editor at Hardcore Droid. When she isn't writing or playing games, she can often be found binge-watching Parks & Rec or The Office, proudly considering herself to be a cross between Leslie Knope and Pam Beasley.
