3 min read
Epic Games is rolling out a major change for Fortnite Creators very soon.
Like Roblox, developers will be able to make and sell in-game items within Fortnite and earn a cut of V-Bucks spent by players. Fortnite’s Creator Economy, which until now rewarded creators mainly based on how much time players spent on their “islands” (custom experiences built by creators), is set to become more like other rival games.
How Fortnite Creators Cash In Works
Creators will be able to build both durable and consumable items. Durable items persist, while consumables are used up.
Epic will also introduce a “Sponsored Row” in the Fortnite Discover section. Creators can pay to have their islands featured there to boost visibility. Revenue from the Sponsored Row will first go fully to creators through the end of 2026, before Epic takes a cut starting January 1, 2027.
As for revenue split, creators will keep around 74% of V-Bucks item sales through the end of 2026. Which drops to about 37% starting in 2027.
Epic claims the revenue share helps cover Eddy costs like server hosting, moderation, safety, and operating expenses. Here is what they have to say:
“To determine the V-Bucks value in US dollars in a given month, we take all customer real-money spending to purchase V-Bucks (converted to US Dollars), subtract platform and store fees (ranging from 12 percent on Epic Games Store to 30 percent on current consoles), and divide it by the total V-Bucks spent by players. Fortnite’s average platform and store fees are currently 26 percent (with specific fees ranging from 12 percent on the Epic Games Store to 30 percent on console platforms). So, 50 percent of V-Bucks value translates to ~37 percent of retail spending, and 100 percent of V-Bucks value translates to ~74 percent.”
Fortnite vs. Roblox
The new features put Fortnite more directly as a rival to Roblox, which already has a robust creator economy. In Roblox, users build experiences, earn from in-game purchases, and monetize popularity. By letting Fortnite creators sell items and pay for visibility, Epic is pushing to capture more of that market.
More broadly, fans can see a shift in how user-generated content works in big games. As a creator, you will now be able to get new revenue streams within Fortnite. For players, it could mean more variety and higher quality in what custom experiences offer. However, it also raises questions about moderation, quality control, and whether “pay-for-visibility” changes which islands players see.
“Like Roblox”: What More Can Fans Expect
Here are a few things we know from all the leaks that will come to Fortnite in the coming months:
- The feature is expected to roll out starting late 2025 or early 2026.
- Visibility through the Sponsored Row will be optional, and other ways of discovery in Fortnite will remain unchanged.
- Epic will need to balance creator earnings, discoverability, and safety as this system scales.
Going Roblox for Fortnite seems exciting on the surface, but Roblox has a reputation for all sorts of child safety problems. It seems like Epic has no issues taking the risk.
