Fortnite, the popular battle royale game, is set to introduce a feature that will allow players to hide certain emotes that have been deemed “confrontational”. These emotes, which the developers acknowledge are “sometimes used in confrontational ways”, include the most-used emote in the game’s seven-year history. One of the emotes that stands out among those being hidden is “Laugh it up”, often used as a post-kill taunt. This particular emote has been used approximately 78.4 million times, according to stats aggregator fortnite-replay.info.
In addition to the “Laugh it up” emote, three others have qualified for the “confrontational” filter. “Take the L” features a dorky dance with the loser’s L symbol to the forehead. “Whipcrack” involves a snapping whip animation. Lastly, “Make It Plantain” releases a flurry of bananas in a display of wealth. These emotes appear to evoke feelings of humiliation and suggestiveness, contributing to a potentially toxic game environment.
The decision to introduce the option to hide these emotes reflects a broader effort to address toxic behavior within the Fortnite community. Online gaming environments often see the propagation of negative communication and taunting behaviors, even in the absence of verbal communication. The act of “teabagging” in multiplayer games, for example, involves players crouching over a defeated opponent as a form of dominance, leading to feelings of irritation and frustration.
While hiding “confrontational” emotes may offer a temporary solution to mitigate toxic behavior in Fortnite, it may not address the root cause of such actions. It remains to be seen whether this feature will effectively reduce confrontational interactions among players, or if additional measures will be necessary to foster a more positive gaming environment.
This is not the first time Fortnite’s emotes have sparked controversy. In the past, some emotes were the subject of lawsuits filed by dance move creators starting in 2018. While many of these cases have been dropped or put on hold, they highlight the complexities surrounding the use of emotes and intellectual property rights in the gaming industry.
The decision to allow players to hide “confrontational” emotes in Fortnite is a step towards creating a less toxic game environment. By addressing behaviors that may contribute to negative interactions among players, developers are taking a proactive stance in promoting a more positive and inclusive gaming community. However, it remains to be seen how effective this measure will be in fostering lasting change and improving the overall player experience in Fortnite.
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