Chris TDL / November 15, 2021
The phenomenon game Fortnite, which brings together online millions of followers around the world, is no longer accessible in China, players confirmed Monday after the deadline set by its American publisher.
Epic Games had announced earlier this month that it would stop the version of Fornite specific to China, where violent, obscene or politically sensitive content is strictly regulated. Fortnite is one of the most popular games in the world, with more than 350 million users to its credit, more than the population of the United States. This decision comes against a backdrop of regulatory tightening in China targeting the digital sector. The video game industry, which represents a major financial windfall in China but is criticized for its addictive nature among young people, has not been spared.
In August, the authorities imposed a drastic limit of three hours of video games per week for those under 18, while some could spend days glued to their screens. Fortnite, which is free to download, generates billions in revenue with players purchasing additional items for their characters, including outfits. The game has quickly become a global phenomenon, to the point that some games are now followed live by millions of viewers. In recent months, Fortnite has opened up to collaborations with celebrities who appear in the game as avatars.