No escape! Now Fortnite’s coming to the Nintendo Switch

As debate heats up over worldwide video game phenomenon Fortnite, the publishers are getting ready to make the sensation available to a whole new group of gamers.

Epic Games announced at annual US Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) that the game would soon be available to play on the Nintendo Switch.

Previously the game had been available only on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows and macOS.

It has proven incredibly popular since it launched earlier this year, with a previous recorded peak of 3.4 million concurrent players.

The online multiplayer game also boasts 45.3 million registered players worldwide.

The Nintendo Switch has also proven popular, with the company claiming in December last year it had sold 10 million consoles worldwide.

While many of these consoles are likely to be in the hands of players who already have access to Fortnite through a separate console, its upcoming availability on the Switch does represent a new opportunity to reach a whole swathe of new players.

This news is unlikely to appease parents already worried about the lure Fortnite is exerting on their young children.

Fortnite is rated M in Australia for violence and online activity, meaning it has been rated unsuitable for anybody under 15.

However, there have been instances of children as young as eight being referred to addiction therapists over their time spent playing the game, and this week a nine-year-old girl in England made headlines after she chose to wet herself rather than take a break from the game.

Psychologist Sandy Rea told The TODAY Show the research was "unequivocal" about games like Fortnite.

"There's over 130 evidence-based pieces of research that tell us violent games like this increase aggressiveness, increase angry thoughts, increase aggressive behaviour," she said.

However, tech expert Charlie Brown said one step parents could take towards understanding the phenomenon was to play it themselves.

"You'll see the content, you'll see the messages being sent," he said.

Parents could also familiarise themselves with the controls that allow them to censor in-game swearing or turn off the messages entirely.

Mr Brown said the lure was simple - the game offered kids the opportunity for shooting, building and problem solving while playing with their friends.

Both Mr Brown and Ms Rea said the key was parental oversight and limited screen time.

"It's not bad for (kids) as long as it's monitored," Ms Rea said.

"About 20 to 30 minutes is the time I'd say."

However, Fortnite doesn't appear to be slowing down, and is popular across all sectors of society.

Professional players even competed in a tournament at E3, while the game counts rapper Drake and Fall Out Boy member Pete Wentz among its celebrity fans.