Fortnite hitboxes and skins
Fortnite hitboxes and skins are under scrutiny as the battle royale game’s competitive scene begins to take shape. With Epic Games’ big-money tournaments for Fortnite now in full swing, some players believe that certain skins offer a competitive advantage thanks to their potentially smaller hitboxes. This is the area of the player model that determines where you can and can’t be shot.
Hitboxes are – obviously – a huge factor in Fortnite, as they determine precisely where you can and can’t be shot by your opponents. Naturally, then, if certain skins have smaller hitboxes, that gives players wearing them a competitive edge as they are, essentially, harder to hit.
However, Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite, has stated that hitboxes are consistent across all skins, meaning there is no actual advantage to be gained by wearing one skin over another in the battle royale game. The discrepancy, then, appears to come from the visual representation of the character not aligning exactly with the hitbox, meaning shots may appear to miss when they actually land.
This debate around Fortnite hitboxes and skins has sparked a lot of conversation among the community, with players taking both sides of the argument. Some believe that skins with smaller hitboxes provide an unfair advantage, while others argue that hitboxes should be standardised to ensure fair gameplay.
Streamer and YouTuber Ninja, who recently signed with Fortnite esports organisation 100 Thieves, expresses his frustration with the game in the video below. “Fortnite is so bad right now,” he says. “Some skins just have smaller hitboxes. It’s so bad. It’s so bad. It’s so bad. It’s so bad. It’s so bad. It’s so bad. It’s so bad.”
While Ninja does not provide any evidence to support his claims, and Epic has not made any changes to hitboxes based on specific skins, it’s certainly enough to get people talking – and that’s exactly what Fortnite is all about.
While the hitbox controversy may not be going away any time soon, we’d recommend picking your favourite Fortnite skins based on personal preference rather than potential hitbox size. Beyond that, it’s still all about skill, strategy, and communication – so, while the skin may make a difference in appearance, its impact on gameplay remains a subject of speculation for now.
