With its cartoonish graphics and tongue-in-cheek sense of humor, it’s hard to believe that Fortnite could court any sort of controversy. However, many high-profile groups around the globe are calling for a ban on the popular battle royale game. In some cases, the game has already been successfully banned in entire countries, and others are looking to implement bans of their own.
Calls to ban Fortnite grow louder
Since its initial release in 2017, Fortnite has courted its fair share of controversy. The game garnered global attention recently when it was reported to be a hub for criminal money laundering, and was also the subject of several major copyright infringement lawsuits. In recent months, many high profile groups and individuals have come forward with calls to ban the game outright.
Most recent among these anti-Fortnite actors is England’s own Prince Harry. The prince has been extremely vocal in his criticisms of the game, and called for a ban at an event earlier this month. According to the BBC, the prince stated, “That game shouldn’t be allowed. Where is the benefit of having it in your household?” He also cited the game’s potentially addictive nature as another reason for wanting it banned. This isn’t the first time Prince Harry has vocalized his opposition to Fortnite; at an event this past October, the prince told a group of 8-year old students that they shouldn’t be playing the game, even going so far as to exclaim “What is wrong with parents!”
Despite his strong opposition to Fortnite, Prince Harry hasn’t been shy about revealing his own background as a gamer, calling himself a fan of both PlayStation and Xbox. Previously having served in the military as a gunner on an Apache helicopter, he went on record crediting his success in the role to his gaming experience.
Although Prince Harry’s call for a ban hasn’t led to any sort of action as of yet, other groups have had far more success. Recently, the government of Iraq voted to implement a blanket ban on both Fortnite and its popular competitor, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. As with Prince Harry, the Iraqi government cited the game’s addictive nature as part of the reason for the ban, and also cited additional concerns about the game’s violence.
In a statement, influential Iraqi leader Moqtada al-Sadr said, “What will you gain if you killed one or two people in PUBG? It is not a game for intelligence or a military game that provides you with the correct way to fight.”
Iraq isn’t the only country to institute a ban. PUBG has reportedly been banned in both Nepal and certain areas of India, though Fortnite reportedly remains legal in both countries. China has also reportedly considered a ban, but despite rumors, hasn’t implemented one as of yet.
Despite the global controversy, Fortnite remains incredibly popular, bringing in over 250 million players and $12 billion in profits worldwide. Though prominent competitors such as Apex Legends are breaking into a market once dominated by Fortnite, the game still remains incredibly popular. According to data released by Epic Games in March, the game still sees over 10 million players in-game consistently. That might change, however, if the calls to ban Fortnite continue to spread.