Are bots in Fortnite ruining the game for everyone?

Chapter 2 has seen the first introduction of Fortnite bots, which in theory most of us thought was going to be a good thing. The idea is that they would be good for beginner players to practice and could help to fill out empty matches, allowing them to go ahead.

The reality for many players, however, has been very different. Debates on Fortnite subreddits and other platforms have largely been negative. These AI bots have virtually no skill level, and have found their way into high-level games. This has hampered the experience for players who are seeking a proper challenge - which, let’s be honest, is most of us.

• Epic Games introduced Fortnite bots to matches in Chapter 2
• The idea was to flesh out empty matches and help beginners
• Bots should only be present in non-competitive game modes
• Many players are reporting that bots have found their way into high-ranking competitive games
• Many Fortnite players have complained that bots are running the experience
• Bots have a very low skill level, making them very easy to kill
• Learn how to sport bots in-game below

Are there bots in Fortnite?

Yes, Fortnite does have bots now, as Epic Games introduced them in Chapter 2. The idea was to use them to fill out empty beginner matches and non-competitive game modes.

Despite their good intentions, bots appear to have found their way into places where they are very unwelcome. This has sparked a huge debate and has divided the Fortnite community - particularly in the subreddit.

Why does Fortnite use bots? 

As we told you above, Epic Games had good intentions when they introduced bots. They were supposed to help in non-competitive game environments by fleshing out the number of players.

Additionally, in beginner matches, AI bots were able to make up the required number of players for the games to go ahead. Moreover, their low skill level effectively made them cannon fodder, which is good practice for players new to the game.

So what has gone wrong?

Basically, Fortnite bots have found their way into spaces where they are unwelcome, such as mid and high-ranking matches. The bots that are appearing in these matches have the same skill level as those in beginner and non-competitive game modes - virtually none.

While this makes them great target practice for the newbies, the easy kills are not as welcome for high-ranking players. On the Fortnite subreddit, there is a huge debate going on, with the consensus largely being that bots are ruining the game.

How to sport Fortnite bots in-game

It’s pretty easy to identify bots in Fortnite pretty quickly, here are some of the tell-tale signs:

• Usernames: Bots tend to have usernames that have obviously been randomly generated. In some cases, they have a “two-word + number” username format - e.g. BigLion23.

• Appearance: They tend not to use any skins, wraps, or cosmetics.

• Skill-level: Bots have virtually no skill and will most only attempt Hail Mary kills from distance.

• Behavior: The overall behavior of bots is pretty easy to spot. They can often be seen moving around in circles and jumping at random. Additionally, they tend to ignore players next to them, almost never crouch and rarely use special weapons.

How could Fortnite bots impact esports betting? 

Fortunately, bots haven’t yet appeared in any proper competitive league or tournament matches. As a result, the Fortnite betting odds remain affected and it appears highly unlikely that Epic Games will move to include them in high-stakes games given the backlash from the community.

Are you looking to bet on Fortnite today? Take a look at the top betting apps with free money here at Strafe.

Conclusion - Are bots in Fortnite here to stay?

If we look at the explosive discussion taking place among those in the Fortnite community, the best thing that Epic Games could do right now is pull the bots entirely. They could then reintroduce them to non-competitive matches once the necessary developments and tweaks have been made.

However, many players would much rather see them wiped from the game for eternity, never to return. Will Epic Games take action? Only time will tell - and we’ll be among the first to update you here at Strafe.