Fortnite: Fun Game or Digital Trap for Kids?

Publish Date : 08/12/2025

Fortnite is one of the most popular games in the world, with over 239 million players each month. It’s free to play, easy to access, and thanks to bright graphics, constant updates, and massive brand partnerships, it’s especially appealing to kids.

Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite, has made billions from the game, not just through the sale of in-game currency (“V-Bucks”), but by keeping players locked in with addictive reward systems like the Battle Pass and achievement tracking. These features are designed to keep players engaged for hours, day after day, in pursuit of virtual rewards. The longer kids play, the more likely they are to spend money – sometimes thousands of dollars – on cosmetic items, level boosts, and other microtransactions.

What’s more concerning is the fact Epic Games knows children under 13 are playing Fortnite, despite the game’s official “Teen” rating. Their marketing strategy leans into youth culture, with in-game tie-ins to Disney, Marvel, LEGO, Star Wars, Ariana Grande, and even Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Outside the game, Fortnite-branded toys, costumes, and merch target the same, pre-teen, demographic.

Behind the colorful avatars and dance emotes lies a game deliberately engineered to be addictive. Epic has hired psychologists and behavioral experts to craft mechanics designed to trigger the brain’s chemical reward system. The result? A product some health experts claim is more addictive than heroin.

Epic touts Fortnite as “safe” and even “educational,” going so far as to offer free classroom lesson plans. But there are no serious safeguards – no strict age verification, no meaningful time limits, and no real warnings about the risks of gaming addiction, depression, or social withdrawal.

The truth is simple: Fortnite isn’t just a game. It’s a business built to hook kids early and keep them playing, an paying, for years.

Know Your Rights

We help families explore their legal options in cases of video game addiction. If you believe a game has caused harm to your child, our team can help you understand your rights.

Feel free to contact one of our digital addiction attorneys at 1-877-542-4646 or by using the nearby form if your family has suffered any adverse side effects due to video game addiction. Your information will remain confidential, and a lawyer will provide a free legal consultation.