Fortnite is introducing a feature allowing players to shield themselves from certain emotes that are deemed confrontational.
The upcoming v29.30 update will include a setting enabling users to filter out select emotes such as "Laugh It Up," "Take the L," "Whipcrack," and "Make it Plantain."
15-year-old Yasmin, the photographer’s daughter, plays Fortnite featuring Travis Scott Presents: Astronomical on April 23, 2020, in Los Angeles, United States. Travis Scott + Cactus Jack have partnered with Fortnite to produce Astronomical, an in-game experiential performance and the world premiere of a new song. (Photo: Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Filtering Out Confrontational Emote
In response to growing concerns over the use of confrontational emotes in Fortnite, the game developers are implementing a new feature in the upcoming v29.30 update.
This feature will empower players to protect themselves from encountering specific emotes that are often associated with negative interactions. Emotes such as "Laugh It Up," "Take the L," "Whipcrack," and "Make it Plantain" will be included in the list of options that players can choose to filter out.
By introducing this feature, Fortnite aims to foster a more positive and inclusive gaming environment where players can enjoy the game without being subjected to potentially harmful interactions.
Instead of completely removing these emotes from view, they will now be depicted as static images within the game interface, lacking the usual dynamic dance animations and accompanying music.
This adjustment allows players to customize their experience, allowing them to choose whether to restrict the visibility of these emotes to only those from their friends or to eliminate them from view entirely.
Amidst Fortnite's extensive collection of emotes, a select group of four has garnered notable attention and criticism for their perceived link to confrontational or disrespectful conduct within the game.
Instances of these emotes being employed following eliminations or triumphant moments have raised concerns among players regarding the potentially toxic environment they contribute to.
Addressing Toxicity in the Gaming Community
This latest update, which introduces a filtering option, seeks to address these apprehensions by empowering players to tailor their in-game experience according to their preferences, fostering a more positive and enjoyable gaming environment.
Epic Games has faced criticism regarding its emotes, albeit for a different issue altogether. Numerous emotes within the game replicate popular dance routines, resulting in multiple lawsuits against Epic Games by creators alleging plagiarism of their choreography.
In February, Epic Games seemingly resolved one such legal dispute with celebrity choreographer Kyle Hanagami, resulting in the withdrawal of his lawsuit concerning the "It's Complicated" emote. While emotes remain a popular aspect of Fortnite gameplay, they don't resonate with all players.
This recent update from Epic Games acknowledges that certain emotes may disrupt the gaming experience for some individuals.
Although players cannot eliminate these emotes, they now have the option to mitigate their impact and reduce potential annoyance.
