Fortnite is available on many different platforms. However, in recent years, the colorful shooter has faced problems with its mobile version, and these are now getting worse.
Mobile and Fortnite: For a while, that was a real success story. But then the problems arose.
Basically, it’s about money. The mobile stores from Apple and Google take a cut of the revenue, Fortnite developer Epic Games wanted exceptions, didn’t get them, and removed the game from the shops. They even brought nasty Apple skins into the game.
Since then, you can only play the current Fortnite version on mobile through roundabout ways. Or you had the game on your phone back then and still use the app today. However, this app has remained at the state of August 2020 and Patch 13.40.
This very version is now facing challenges. According to Epic, this is due to the strict requirements from Apple and Google.
In 2019, a mother took her 15-year-old son out of school for Fortnite. Watch a video here about what happened to the boy:
Fortnite: No more V-Bucks for mobile players
What will be different in the mobile version? The old Fortnite version will become a game for adults. Furthermore, it will not be possible to spend the in-game currency “V-Bucks” on the old mobile versions. The restrictions also apply to the old Mac version.
This might be related to a ruling from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. They imposed a record fine on developer Epic Games in December 2022, because Fortnite allegedly violated children’s privacy.
Fortnite itself has commented on Twitter regarding the new restrictions of the mobile version:
Tweet Translation: “From January 30th, Fortnite players using version 13.40 from August 2020 on iOS, Mac, and Google Play will no longer be able to spend V-Bucks and must be over 18 to play. We want all versions of our games to use the current suite of Epic Online Services – including parental controls, purchase guidelines, and parental review features. Due to Apple and Google’s restrictions on Fortnite, we cannot update the app on these platforms.”
The whole situation around the old Fortnite version is already quite curious. Now a 2-year-old version of the shooter is rated for ages 18 and adds another chapter to the fight of Epic vs. Mobile.
Fortnite shook up the gaming market significantly upon its release in 2017 and remains one of the most successful games in the world to this day. The developers manage time and again to impress with fresh updates and ideas, retaining old players and attracting new ones.
And the stories surrounding the colorful shooter are sometimes really exciting: Ninja became huge on Twitch through Fortnite, wanted to become the David Beckham of gaming – What happened to him?
