Ben Affleck Details Being Routed, Roasted by 12-Year-Olds in Fortnite
The actor and director said his online gaming sessions often devolve into shouting matches after younger players eliminate him.
Ben Affleck said his online gaming sessions in Fortnite often end with him being eliminated and verbally roasted by 12-year-old players.
The actor made the admission during an October 7 appearance on the New Heights podcast hosted by NFL players Jason and Travis Kelce.
"I always play games," Affleck said, explaining that he enjoys sports titles like Madden and NBA 2K alongside first-person shooters.
He said he logs into the popular battle royale convinced his background in first-person shooters would give him a competitive edge, but instead discovers that pre-teens with lightning reflexes repeatedly eliminate him within seconds.
"I play first-person shooter games, so I think I'm good, and then 12-year-olds just f**k you up," Affleck said. "I try to come out, and I'm like, 'Here I come.' I get killed right away, and then they taunt you, like, 'You suck. F**k you!'"
Affleck said the humiliating defeats quickly escalate into personal arguments through his gaming headset, with the anonymous kids having no idea they are trading insults with an A-list movie star.
"I end up getting in arguments. 'F**k you! I don't suck! I'm a grown man!'" Affleck laughed.
Virtual Skins Inspire Film and Spark Disbelief
Affleck also discussed the influence of gaming on his creative work, specifically his new Netflix thriller Animals, which he was promoting on the podcast.
He revealed that his son's fascination with oddball Fortnite character outfits, known as skins, directly inspired some of the bizarre, unsettling costume designs in the film, including an eerie bunny mask worn by a kidnapper.
The actor expressed sheer disbelief at the real-world cost of these virtual cosmetic items, recalling when his 14-year-old son, Samuel, asked for rare Fortnite skins for Christmas.
"My son and he's like 'For Christmas, can you get me these real skins for Fortnite?' But they're 300 bucks," Affleck told the podcast hosts.
"They ain't even real? Just to wear in the game? That's bull--," Affleck quipped, recalling his reaction to discovering the astronomical secondary-market price tags.
A Documented Passion for Competitive Gaming
Affleck's passion for competitive gaming extends beyond Fortnite and has long been documented among fans.
He is an avid player of Riot Games' tactical shooter Valorant and mains the robotic agent KAY/O.
The actor has been spotted attending premier esports tournaments and watch parties with his son.
In 2025, Affleck joined esports organization Sentinels for a Valorant watch party livestream, where he discussed his experience playing the game while watching professional competition.
Redington Cybersport reported in October 2026 that Affleck said Fortnite skins inspired costumes in his new Netflix film and described being taunted by 12-year-old players.
Despite the regular humbling by younger gamers, Affleck continues to play, with his digital downtime frequently spiraling into foul-mouthed voice-chat arguments in multiplayer lobbies.
