Roblox's influence leads to Fortnite creators granted authority to market in-game merchandise
In a move that mirrors the success of platforms like Roblox, Epic Games, the publisher of the free-to-play online game Fortnite, has announced a significant change in revenue sharing for creators in the Fortnite Creator program. From December 2021, these creators will be able to monetize their virtual goods, with the revenue earned from their sales being increased from the normal 50% to a boosted 100% (before fees) for a period of 7 years, until the end of 2026.
This boosted revenue cut applies to both the sale of items creators have made and the money they already earn from engagement payouts for Epic-created items. It's important to note that this change is not limited to the Epic Games Store but also applies to other platforms like the PlayStation Store or the Xbox Store.
The fees for selling items in Fortnite's marketplace vary from 12% to 30%, depending on the platform where the purchase is made. This change in revenue sharing is partly due to the growth of Roblox, where in 2024, creators earned more than $1 billion in revenue.
Epic Games is currently involved in ongoing legal battles with Apple and Google over app store fees, which could potentially impact the revenue sharing model for Fortnite creators. However, the company has emphasised its commitment to supporting community developers, acknowledging their crucial role in the success of Fortnite and other games on its platform.
Fortnite returned to the iOS platform in Europe and to Android devices earlier this year, following a brief absence due to a dispute with Apple and Google. The platform's virtual currency used in Fortnite is called V-Bucks.
Roblox, another popular platform for user-generated content, has been growing with multiple hit games on its platforms. To address safety concerns, Roblox has introduced more monitoring and filtering features. Despite these efforts, the platform has faced safety concerns, leading to complaints from parents and child-advocacy groups.
As Fortnite continues to evolve, this boost in revenue for creators could attract more developers to the platform, potentially leading to a surge in creativity and innovation. The revenue cut for creators will revert to 50% after the end of 2026, marking a return to the normal revenue sharing model.
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