Ben Affleck Has Some Strong Opinions About Fortnite Skins And How Hard The Game Is For Him

Two-time Academy Award winner Ben Affleck has publicly shared his candid and passionate opinions regarding Epic Games' massive battle royale title, Fortnite. During a recent guest appearance on the popular New Heights podcast, hosted by professional football-playing brothers Jason and Travis Kelce, the Hollywood actor and director opened up about his personal experiences with modern gaming, explaining how his expectations did not quite match the harsh reality of online multiplayer lobbies.

Affleck, who described himself as an avid gamer, noted that he has a particular fondness for first-person shooter titles. Because of his extensive background playing shooter games, he entered the world of Fortnite with a healthy amount of confidence, fully expecting that he would be able to hold his own against the competition. However, his transition into the third-person battle royale environment proved to be far more challenging than he had anticipated, resulting in a swift and humbling reality check.

According to the actor, his time on the virtual battlefield was cut incredibly short. Rather than dominating the matches, Affleck found himself repeatedly and immediately eliminated by much younger opponents. He revealed that the players who consistently defeated him were twelve-year-olds, who did not hesitate to mock and tease the Oscar winner after sending his character back to the lobby.

The teasing from these preteen players apparently struck a nerve with the actor. Affleck admitted that he became quite heated during these online encounters, leading him to actively argue and shout back at his young tormentors. In an effort to defend his gaming honor, he recalled yelling back at the children, asserting that he does not suck at the game and reminding them that he is a grown man.

The actor's initial introduction to the battle royale phenomenon came through his son, who was highly obsessed with the game and played it constantly. This domestic exposure to the title eventually led to a surprising revelation for Affleck during the holiday season, when his son requested specific Fortnite character skins as Christmas presents.

Upon looking into the request, Affleck was left completely shocked by the financial reality of modern in-game cosmetics. He discovered that the specific virtual outfits his son wanted would cost hundreds of real-world dollars to acquire. The actor expressed immense disbelief and frustration over the concept, questioning the logic of spending substantial amounts of money on digital items that are not physically real and only exist to be worn inside a video game.

While Fortnite has proven to be a major source of frustration for the actor, it is not his only venture into tactical shooters. Affleck is known to be a major fan of Riot Games' competitive tactical shooter, Valorant. His connection to the gaming world has also bled into his cinematic career; in the 2014 psychological thriller film Gone Girl, Affleck's character, Nick Dunne, can be seen playing EA's military shooter Battlefield 3.