Fortnite is free, but kids are getting bullied into spending money

The pressure to purchase skins is everywhere in Fortnite. You can’t hop into a Fortnite match as a default without being singled out.

[Vanfernal]

So now you're "bullied" if you don't have a skin? Gtfo. I'm sick of this made up issues that plague video game news nowadays. Anything for some cheap clicks.

[LucasRuinedChildhood]

Well, a kid's ability to buy skins in a free-to-play game like Fortnite could be class issue. We're not kids so we don't really get what it's like to grow up being bombarded with all these micro-transactions from an early age. Many kids woud probably find it hard to jusitify paying $20 for "skins" to their parents. A bit of empathy would go a long way, man.

[rdgneoz3]

Bullying has been around for a long time, it's not new. Luckily people have the ability to mute people or put them on ignore in this day and age...

[Vanfernal]

Same thing happened when I grew up if your parents couldn't afford new Nikes, or the latest toys, or designer clothes, etc. This is not a Fortnite issue. It's a matter of knowing you can't have everything and being grateful for what your parents can afford.

[Stay-Toasty]

Thank you. Atleast theres one rational person in here. I can totally see kids getting bullied in their circle of friends because they cant afford all the new skins. Its the same thing as someone coming in the new jordans( i dont know shit about shoes these days) and then the kid who gets bulled for coming in with knock off adidas's with 4 stripes. This shit does happen. Its not some anti gamer agenda. Use your fucking brains.

[TacoTaco]

The first time I played Rainbow Six Siege on PC, I was singled out on my team for having a default player and then, when I died on that first round, two members voted to boot me off because of course the guy with a default player is a noob... On his very first round ever.

They were typing insults. I muted them. Sucks that that was the experience I got, but it's true and it happens. Calling that "bullying" really discredits those who are truly bullied, but people who are more "invested" in a game are absolutely savage to those who aren't.

[l33t_haxx0r]

Why not get loads of adults who play to start wearing default skins and start bullying kids who have the paid skins?? Problem solved!

[No Way]

I like the way you think.

[Smokehouse]

Awww 😭

More quality stuff from polygon.

[Zjet]

Just rock the default if you want to.

I used to do this playing Need For Speed Underground on PS2 Online.

People would have the most ridiculous body kits and paint.

I'd show up with my Mazda MX-5 with stock body and people would laugh.

Insides top notch though. Brrrrrmm

[Avalanche]

i mean they give you free skins every season....

[SegaGamer]

Kids are bullied into spending money? But it's not their money, it's the parents money. It's down to the parents to take control of this.

[harmny]

Parents should give them money.

[Cmoney007]

It is an article from Polygon. They are usually looking for an agenda. I still remember wearing this ridiculous outfit on my prophet in Lineage 2. It looked like I was wearing a yellow dress on my male character. This made it easy for people playing the game to make fun of me. Things like this can happen in a game. I’m just glad my next armor set was so much better than that yellow dress. Lol

[Zeke68]

I still remember my "golden banana paladin" in World Of Warcraft. Damn that was an ugly armor 😂😂
Every raid "Golden banana heals main tank(s)" 😁😂

[Shikoku]

Wouldn't say they are getting bullied but they aren't aware of the psychological manipulation they is used or analytics

[SPEAKxTHExTRUTH]

Have these fortnite bullies come over here to DOA6 and I’ll show them who the real bully is...

[Silly gameAr]

Are they being forced to cross-play again?

[ramiuk1]

happens at my kids school.
theres kids that buy every skin and then kids that spend over £20 a wek on fortnite and my lad whos 13 says alot of kids who have default skin or dont have battle pass that they get accused of there mum and dad being tramps and failures and a huge list of negative things hurled at them and EPIC know that which is why F2P does this

[froy402]

If I were a bully I think would be bullying the kids who bought virtual clothes 🤔 ,what has this day and age come to.

[slayernz]

what about all the parents (like me!) that are getting bullied by their kids to buy them skins!!! save a thought for us lol

[TargusX]

Of course, this is the business strategy!

[The7Reaper]

Lmao

Always "quality" content from Polygon

[Bleucrunch]

Is this really taking place? Seems more of reaching....why would you care what one thinks of your avatar in a video game? They will always be a different representation which is why they are all custom.

I will share a personal experience, I will ALWAYS choose a female character if the option is given in a game. So for a game like Division 2 I chose a female character. My friends at first didn't get it and actually thought because I was a man I should only play with male characters ( an absurd line of reasoning, almost made me question my friendship with them lol).

I explained to them why I choose female characters, simply put I love a woman who can kick ass. The inspiration comes from Lara Croft ( I mean the Original one from the PlayStation days, not this suped up Rambo esque foolishness they have out now) and so when I play as a female character (Dark souls, Monster Hunter, Kitana, Melina, etc) I imagine them being Lara kicking ass all over the place.

The skins or characters chosen is irrelevant, reason being, skins provide NO (I repeat NO) tactical advantage, you can have all the skins you want, but if you suck at the game, you have bigger problems.

I say when one is dissing your skin, defeat them in the game and diss their skills....cause THEY SUCK!!!!!

You're Welcome.

[Germaximus]

The comments here are interesting. I've actually come across a lot of live streams on Twitch that refer to people in the default skin as lower players. I forget the term they use but they actually call them something along the lines of "no skin" or whatever.

I wouldn't call that bullying but there is a stupid mentality from people that have skins where they feel they're superior just cuz they have one. It's ridiculous but it's out there.

Note: I didn't read the article. F*** Polygon.