Popular Twitch streamers have been targeted in games like Fortnite, PUBG, and Call of Duty for years and that continued to be the case in a recent Felix "xQc" Lengyel and Imane "Pokimane" Anys livestream. Playing the new season of Fortnite, both xQc and Pokimane could have been received a ban according to Epic Games policy for reacting to such stream snipers in a unique way.
During a recent Twitch stream, xQc and Pokimane were playing Fortnite Chapter 3 Season 3 together to experience what Fortnite without building is like. While in a duos match, the two popular Twitch livestreamers were targeted by many stream snipers, presumably comprised of members from both audiences. This quickly led to a large collection of players congregating around the Daily Bugle in a public match that would typically spread out these players to a variety of locations on the map.
Realizing they were outnumbered, xQc appealed to his and Pokimane's Twitch fans by suggesting they keep it cool and follow his lead. Thinking nothing of it, xQc compelled the stream snipers to form a line and slide down one of the hills adjacent to the Daily Bugle point of interest and confirmed to them that it would be captured on livestream. Trying to turn a negative situation into a positive one, the two Twitch streamers convinced the stream snipers to work with them rather than compete against them and this was quickly noticed by Epic Games which considers such actions to be "teaming."
One of the Fortnite stream snipers used a Shockwave Grenade after grouping up with the others in order to dispatch a portion of the group, but xQc began counting down for the others to slide down the hill right away in case the fun was ruined. Just as xQc's countdown began, he and Pokimane were kicked out of the Fortnite battle royale lobby and received a “you have been kicked for teaming, please remember to play fair in Fortnite” warning message. Because they weren't banned from the Epic Games title, both popular Twitch streamers were able to queue for a new game after a brief pause of confusion and apologizing.
Epic Games made teaming against the rules in Fortnite several seasons ago due to issues with players working with each other to gain an edge against the rest of a battle royale lobby. While it isn't abnormal for Twitch streamers to group up with fans in Fortnite Creative, the public nature of a battle royale match makes having an army helping a duo potentially problematic. Although Twitch's xQc and Pokimane didn't intend to have their followers attack anyone in the match, the significant portion of players congregating in one area of the map may have left other players in the match waiting for a gunfight to no avail.
Fortnite is available now for Android, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.