The new competitive year is starting on Fortnite and for the occasion, the publisher has decided to set the record straight on cheating and unfair behavior. On its official website, Epic Games has published a list of new rules to be observed in all future competitive games. They concern collusion and signaling.
The developers explain that in 2019, Fortnite competitions had been greatly affected by these notorious unfairnesses: some players communicating with others in order not to attack each other and stay alive. In 2020, the competition rules will stipulate that: "Players may not work together to deceive or otherwise cheat other players during any match."
Epic Games then gives the list of behaviors punishable by sanctions:
- Teaming: Players working together during the match while on opposing teams.
- Planned Movement: Agreement between 2 or more opposing players to land at specific locations or to move through the map in a planned way before the match begins.
- Communication: Sending or receiving signals (both verbal and non-verbal) to communicate with opposing players.
- Item Dumping: Intentionally dropping items for an opposing player to collect.
In addition — and this is where there is an extreme firmness on the part of the publisher — certain behavior that could be a signal is now punishable. These are:
- Pick-axe swinging
- Emoting
- Toy tossing
- Jumping
Penalties remain at the discretion of Epic Games, but one can imagine that they range from a simple warning to a ban in case of repeated collusion.
Are these new rules too strict?
Very quickly, the entire community reacted to these sanctions. Streamers and professional players are all too willing to blame voluntary collusion, but according to them, it's almost made necessary this season due to the lack of mobility (i.e. items that allow to disengage from a fight or to flee). In other words, Epic Games could have addressed the right problem by adding mobility to the game rather than banning players who "associate" to stay alive on sight.
Still, the list of behaviors identified as cheating is very strong. Pick-axe swinging or jumping shouldn't be punishable actions. Of course, these actions aren't prohibited as such: their assimilation to cheating will depend on the context and the analysis, after the game, by referees.
Some pros have even ape these rules on Twitter, ironically explaining that soon, taking the slightest leap to flee will be identified as collusion...
The next Solo Cash Cup followed by the launch of the second season of the Fortnite Champion Series will give us a clearer idea of the impact of these new rules on the Fortnite competitive scene.
The opening of the 2020 edition of the Super Bowl will be preceded by a special Twitch Rivals on Fortnite, which will mix the most famous NA streamers with NFL players.
