‘Fortnite’ app removal threatens social lifeline for young gamers

A file photo of contestants at the Fortnite World Cup Duos Finals in New York, US. Fortnite, which has attracted more than 350 million players globally, is especially popular among younger gamers and has become one of the few lifelines to the outside world for kids trapped at home during the coronavirus pandemic. — Reuters

NEW YORK/BENGALURU: A YouTube alert interrupted Jack Erricker’s schoolwork on Friday morning as he and kids all over the world woke up to the news that their favourite game, Fortnite, had been taken down from Apple’s Store and Google Play store.

“It’s basically the only game I play,” said Erricker, an 11-year-old in Bengaluru, India, an avid Fortnite player on his Apple iPad. “I’m not happy, I don’t think it’s a good move.”