Fortnite has too many bots, but the problem could be easily solved

Bots have been an integral part of Fortnite’s casual scene for years, and with the addition of modes like OG, it seems like every experience is full of these AI enemies. Though bots are useful in some ways, it’s particularly frustrating to run into a lobby full of bots pretending to be players.

There are quite a few ways to solve Fortnite’s bot problem without removing them entirely, so here’s how we think Epic Games should handle the AI enemies that are replacing Fortnite’s player base.

Bots are AI enemies that mimic the appearance and playstyle of real players, though they’re usually less skilled than an actual human. You can encounter bots across modes like Battle Royale or Fortnite OG, and though they’re quite easy to defeat, you likely won’t be able to determine it’s a bot until you’re already in combat.

The primary reason that bots exist in Fortnite’s non-ranked game modes is to offer a mix of human and AI enemies for casual players, plus to reduce matchmaking times across the board. Some players like earning a few easy eliminations per match, while others prefer to fight human enemies exclusively.

The ratio of human to bot in each mode fluctuates and may be based on things like skill-based matchmaking, so there are situations where a sizable chunk of enemies in a match may be AI.

The reason bots are a problem in Fortnite is that they’re too easy to defeat and take away from the competitive experience at Fortnite’s core. Running into a lobby that’s full of AI bots can ruin the entire match, especially if you’re an experienced player.

Encountering bots on the regular will have you questioning every battle you take part in, and getting an AI elimination undermines the excitement of besting a rival player. It’s true that bots add some benefit to Fortnite, particularly for newer players, but that doesn’t make up for all of the issues they cause.

Bot lobbies offer a great training ground for beginners to test out Fortnite’s equipment and mechanics, but after a few dozen matches, they become a disservice to casual fans who may one day want to transition into competitive play.

Despite Fortnite’s vibrant environments and hilarious skins, it’s one of the most competitive esports in 2026. Playing against casual lobbies of AI enemies won’t provide adequate training for ranked play or tournaments, especially since bots can’t efficiently build.

The bot problem in Fortnite is an easy issue to solve. Epic Games simply needs to separate the lobbies for non-ranked play, or at least replace the AI players with different types of bots instead. Here are the two ways we believe Epic should rebalance bots in Fortnite: Battle Royale.

If you search the Fortnite map, you’ll eventually encounter AI enemies that don’t mimic the player. They often have custom skins, but regardless of their appearance, AI characters are easily identifiable through multiple visual cues.

One goal of bots is to provide a more balanced challenge for beginners who might not be familiar with battle royales, so replacing the player-like bots entirely by adding more basic AI enemies around the map could be the perfect middle ground.

Bot lobbies could be separated into their own game mode, allowing players to experience Battle Royale with or without AI opponents. This change would offer fans a choice between going toe-to-toe with real players and facing a mix of enemies.

This option might not be viable for every game mode due to long load times, but many players would likely opt to sit on the menu for an extra minute if it meant avoiding bots in their next match.

While bots offer an easier way to complete challenges or learn the basic landscape of Fortnite, they’re also becoming too plentiful in each match to ignore. With a plethora of AI enemies flooding each lobby, it may be time for Epic Games to reconsider its approach to non-player enemies in online matches.

If bots continue to appear in casual lobbies at the current rate, then it could affect the skill of new players trying to improve. To strive to be competitive, beginners need practice against real players, and bots simply can’t replicate human competitors.