Introducing IARC Ratings in Fortnite, Paving the Way for a Multi-Game Ecosystem

In partnership with the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC), Fortnite will feature internationally-recognized age and content ratings for all first and third party playable content starting on November 14.  All experiences published in Fortnite will be required to have an IARC-assigned rating ranging from E to a maximum rating of Teen. Fortnite continues to evolve into a multi-game ecosystem featuring a diverse range of games and experiences from Epic and third party creators. The IARC rating system gives parents and players access to trusted and familiar ratings that help them make informed decisions about what and how they play. This is a critical step toward building a metaverse that is safe and fun for everyone. 

“By implementing the IARC rating system within Fortnite, Epic continues to elevate its commitment to providing families with tools to make informed decisions about which experiences are appropriate for their children,” said Patricia Vance, president of ESRB and chairperson of IARC. “As Fortnite evolves from its Battle Royale roots into a broader ecosystem containing a variety of content from Epic and other creators, it’s especially important that parents have a clear understanding of what their children want to access.”

Here’s how it works

When a creator is ready to publish their island to Fortnite, they will fill out the IARC content rating questionnaire before they submit their island to be published and reviewed by Epic moderators. When the questionnaire is complete, creators will receive an age-based IARC rating for the content of their island along with region-specific ratings from IARC-participating rating authorities. These ratings will automatically be applied and prominently displayed prior to access. Content sensitivities vary by region and IARC’s scalable, global solution provides parents and players with trusted guidance from ESRB (North America), PEGI (Europe), ACB (Australia), USK (Germany), ClassInd (Brazil), and more depending on where they live.  Participating rating authorities may modify one or more of the ratings assigned based on their own review of the experience once it’s been published.

Fortnite Experience Ratings and New Parental Controls

Once IARC ratings go live on November 14, parents and guardians will be able to use new options in Epic’s existing Parental Controls to set content age rating limits based on their family’s preferences. These controls can be used to universally block islands above a certain rating. Parents can unlock specific islands that exceed the set ratings threshold using their Parental Controls PIN. There will also be an option to turn on/off the ability for children to design their own games in Creative Mode.

At launch, parents can set these controls in Fortnite, or they can log into the Epic Account Portal to modify their content rating settings. Information about Epic’s Parental Controls can be found on the Epic Games Safety & Security Center.

Next Steps for Creators

The IARC questionnaire will be available in the Creator Portal starting October 16, so please go in and get assigned rating information for your islands! Unrated islands will be delisted on November 14. Make sure to complete the questionnaire ahead of November 14 so there are no missed opportunities to hang out on your island.