Fans Think Homer Simpson's Nipples Signal Fortnite Policy Change

This week, fortnite For the first time, players got a look at something they'd never seen in a game before: nipples. Specifically, Homer Simpsons nipples. There are also big ones.

Yes, the upcoming Fortnite model will feature a giant version of Homer, wearing only his underwear with everything else (including his nipples) on display. Why is this so important to die-hard Fortnite fans? Well, that's because the game has previously refused to depict areolas of any kind.

Although it's never been publicly stated, Fortnite developer Epic Games appears to have made it mandatory for its battle royale game to have no nipples. The obvious rule is first discussed Back in 2019, the game's high-profile Travis Scott concert (and his purchasable in-game skin) raised eyebrows among fans when the rapper sported smooth, gap-free chest.

Since then, many of Fortnite's original characters and a slew of other famous figures have appeared in the game shirtless and even without nipples. A non-exhaustive list includes Kratos from God of War, Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender, John Cena from WWE, Goku from Dragon Ball Z, and Marvel superheroes like Drax and the Hulk.

IGN has frequently asked Epic Games if it would comment on the issue of missing nipples in Fortnite, but has never received a formal, public response.

Oddly enough, we've noticed that Fortnite's no-nipple edict also applies to Fortnite's third-party modes. Earlier this year, Philips launched the Body Royale promotion model, designed to highlight its latest OneBlade shaver. On Philips' website, photos of the product depict its use on all types of body hair, by real-life male models who certainly have nipples.

But in Fortnite's Body Royale, the action takes place against the backdrop of the game's conspicuously nippleless model. In order to get this experience in the game, does Philips have to remove the nipples as requested by Epic Games? (Philips also did not respond to IGN's request for comment.)

Now, it looks like Homer Simpson is going to change all that. but why? Is there something in Homer's design that allows his nipples – nothing more than a pair of black dots – to appear on his animated body? This seems unlikely – other cartoon characters have not had nipples before.

Does The Simpsons have its own set of brand rules that require nipples and supersede Epic Games' own rules? Or maybe there's some concrete fact here that Homer's near-nude appearance in the game has to match the same design shown in the Fortnite crossover Disney+ shorts that come with The Simpsons.

Or, fans say, it could all be indicative of broader policy changes within Epic Games. As Fortnite moves into a new Chapter 7 era and teams up with Quentin Tarantino, maybe it's time to loosen this particular restriction. After nipples, what’s next? If Epic Games admits this, we will let you know.

Tom Phillips is IGN's news editor. You can contact Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social