Fortnite, the popular battle royale game, is set to introduce a new feature that will enable players to hide certain emotes that have been deemed “confrontational” by the developers. These emotes, which are often used in taunting or humiliating gestures, have sparked controversy within the gaming community.
One of the most notorious emotes that will be hidden is the “Laugh it up” animation, which has been identified as the most-used emote in Fortnite’s history. This emote, commonly used as a post-kill taunt, has been employed approximately 78.4 million times according to statistics. Players will now have the option to hide this and three other emotes that fall under the “confrontational” category.
Players will have the ability to adjust their settings to hide these emotes from view. By toggling the “See Confrontational Emotes” option, players can ensure that they do not witness the offending animations in-game. Alternatively, they can restrict the visibility of these emotes to only their friends. While players can still use the emotes themselves, the animations will appear as the character standing still to others.
In addition to the “Laugh it up” emote, three other emotes have been classified as “confrontational” and will be included in the filter. These emotes include “Take the L,” a dance featuring a loser’s L gesture, “Whipcrack,” a snapping whip animation, and “Make It Plantain,” an emote that showers bananas resembling a rich jerk flaunting cash. The underlying theme of these emotes seems to revolve around humiliation and suggestiveness.
Impact on Toxic Behavior
The decision to hide these “confrontational” emotes comes in response to concerns about toxic behavior in online gaming. Taunting gestures and animations have the potential to provoke negative reactions and create a hostile gaming environment. By implementing the option to filter out these emotes, Fortnite aims to address these issues and make the gaming experience more enjoyable for all players.
This is not the first time Fortnite’s emotes have garnered attention for controversial reasons. In the past, some emotes have been the subject of lawsuits by creators of dance moves featured in the game. While these legal battles have faced challenges and uncertainties, they have highlighted the complexities of intellectual property rights in the gaming industry.
Fortnite’s decision to allow players to hide “confrontational” emotes reflects the ongoing effort to promote a positive and inclusive gaming environment. By giving players more control over their gaming experience, Fortnite aims to mitigate toxic behavior and enhance the overall enjoyment of the game. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, addressing issues of harassment and disrespect in online multiplayer games remains a priority for developers and players alike.
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