Is Epic Games / Fortnite safe for my child?

Fortnite is one of the better-managed online games in terms of child safety, and Epic Games has invested in parental controls. The main risks are: random strangers in voice chat (which can include adults using abusive or inappropriate language), in-game spending pressure around V-Bucks and the Battle Pass, and the social dynamics of competitive gaming which can involve bullying or exclusion. Setting voice chat to friends-only, applying a spending limit via Epic's parental controls, and having regular conversations about what is happening in the game are the three most important steps. Fortnite itself (cartoonish violence, no blood) is generally considered age-appropriate for children over 8 with parental awareness.

What are V-Bucks and how much do they cost?

V-Bucks are Fortnite's virtual currency, used to buy cosmetic items (skins, emotes) and the Fortnite Battle Pass. They are bought with real money — typically £3.99 for 400 V-Bucks up to £79.99 for 13,500. The Battle Pass costs around 950 V-Bucks (roughly £8) per season. Spending can escalate quickly because V-Bucks come in fixed bundles and items are priced to require multiple bundles. Epic Games' parental controls allow you to set a monthly spending limit and require a PIN for purchases — we strongly recommend enabling both.

Epic Games & Fortnite Safety Guide for Parents

A complete guide to Epic Games — home of Fortnite — including the friend system, voice chat, V-Bucks spending, and parental controls.

Official age

13+

We recommend

13+

Developer

Epic Games

Risks

Direct messaging

In-app purchases

Overview

Epic Games is the company behind Fortnite, one of the most-played online games in the world, as well as the Epic Games Store — a digital distribution platform that competes with Steam. Fortnite is a free-to-play battle royale game with significant social features: voice chat, a friend system, a shared lobby system, and a creative mode. The game is rated PEGI 12 but is widely played by children of all ages. V-Bucks, Fortnite's in-game currency, are purchased with real money and used to buy cosmetic items and a battle pass.

How children use it

Children typically play Fortnite in squads with friends, using voice chat to coordinate. Many also play with strangers in random matchmaking, which can expose them to adult behaviour, abusive language, and unsolicited contact. The Creative mode allows children to build and share custom game maps. Epic also offers other free games through its store monthly, which broadens children's exposure to different titles.

Main risks

online strangers gaming safety in app purchases cyberbullying

Recommended privacy settings

Parental Controls

Location: epicgames.com → Account → Parental Controls

Set to: Set spending limits and enable PIN

Epic Games offers parental controls that let you set a monthly spending limit for V-Bucks and require a PIN for purchases. This is the most important financial safeguard.

Voice Chat

Location: Fortnite Settings → Audio → Voice Chat

Set to: Friends only or off

Voice chat with strangers is where most harmful interactions in Fortnite occur. Setting voice chat to friends-only or off prevents your child from hearing or being heard by unknown players.

Friend Requests

Location: Epic Games Account → Privacy

Set to: Friends only

Limiting who can send friend requests prevents strangers from adding your child to their friend list.

Parent actions

essential

Set up Epic Games parental controls with a spending PIN and monthly V-Bucks limit at epicgames.com

Time: 15 minutes

essential

Set voice chat to friends-only or off to prevent contact from strangers during matches

Time: 5 minutes

essential

Talk to your child about what is and is not acceptable behaviour from other players, and that they can leave or mute any player who is abusive

Time: 15 minutes

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