Anyone with kids knows how difficult it can be to get the device out of their hands when screen time is over, but a new ‘Fortnite’ feature will at least put one more tool in your arsenal: Parents can finally set time limits for how long their little gamers can play Fortnite. The new feature syncs across all game modes, connected devices, and even with the Unreal Editor for Fortnite development tool.
In a blog post today, Epic said that, when activated, time limits will let the child know when they have 30 minutes of play remaining—and all game modes draw from the same pool. Children will then be able to open a menu that shows them exactly how much of their allotted time they’ve used, and which time windows they’re allowed to play in. If their parent has allowed it, a child can press a button to ask for more time, or a parent can add more time manually (presumably using a passcode, though I haven’t been able to test the feature myself).
Credit: Epic Games
How to set up time limits in Fortnite
To set up time limits in Fortnite, either click on the Parental Controls section of the Fortnite main menu or access your child’s Epic Account Portal on the web and click on Parental Controls in the sidebar in the Settings menu.
From there, click on the Time Limits menu, where you’ll be able to set up both a window for your child to play in as well as a limit to how long they’re allowed to play within that window. Click Save to finalize your changes.
You’ll also be able to opt into Time Reports in a menu directly next to Time Limits, where you can see a detailed dashboard of your child’s playtime, including those instances when you have added extra time for your child.
Credit: Epic Games
Time Limits aren’t a perfect solution
Time Limits join existing Fortnite parental controls that allow parents to gate certain experiences based on age rating, but like those controls, they have one issue: Fortnite is a free game.
A child could potentially get around these limits by setting up multiple Epic accounts and just moving to a secret one when a time limit is about to come up. Setting up a new account does mean your child will have to earn all their cosmetics again from scratch, so it’s possible some won’t be willing to be so crafty. As always, automatic tools are best used in tandem with a watchful eye.