Fortnite players can now video chat in the game using the Houseparty app. The new feature allows players to chat through their phones and display their friends’ cameras in-game.
The video chat function is currently available on PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. A blog post from Epic doesn’t mention Xbox or Nintendo Switch support, but notes that it will update the feature “if we’re able to support more platforms in the future.”
To use the new feature, players need to download the Houseparty app on their Android or iOS device and link it to their Epic account. Players can then use the settings tab or TV icon to connect the game to Fortnite. When a user points the phone camera at their face, the app automatically generates a virtual background.
Once connected, players can create a room in the app and add their friends to it. The camera feeds from the app appear in-game on the right side of the screen.
The feature comes with a few safety and security options. Players can turn the option off entirely in Fortnite’s parental control menu. The app allows users to quickly block and report anyone, as well as lock rooms so no other friends can join them.
Players will receive a free Rainbow Fog Wrap in Fortnite for connecting their Houseparty and Epic Games account.
Houseparty first teamed up with Epic Games in 2019. In a post announcing the move, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney said, “Houseparty brings people together, creating positive social interactions in real time. By teaming up, we can build even more fun, shared experiences than what could be achieved alone.”
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