Controversial New Fortnite Marketplace Sparks Player Divides
In a significant move, Epic Games has announced changes to Fortnite's Creative Mode, allowing creators to sell in-game items and pay for increased visibility from December. This shift towards a more monetized ecosystem, similar to Roblox, has been a topic of concern among some Fortnite players.
Creators will have access to a Verse-based API and new UEFN tools to create and offer items for sale, using V-Bucks, the in-game currency. They will be able to sell items directly from their islands, offering an opportunity for creators to gain new revenue.
Epic Games will pay creators 50% of the V-Bucks value from sales, initially at 100% through 2026. Last year, the company paid creators $325m in engagement payouts. However, some players are worried about the potential for pay-to-win scenarios as creators sell in-game advantages.
The concerns are not unfounded, as creators will have the ability to bid for placement in the Sponsored Row and enter an auction. There is a fear that creators who focus on selling random items for faster progression will overshadow those who prioritize giving player experiences. Another concern is that big-earning creators will benefit more and that there could be a deluge of AI slop and scams.
One player expressed concern about the lack of protection tools for players to avoid scummy behavior, while another raised the issue of creators exploiting the new addition, particularly big creators with large amounts of money. Some fans of the game are divided over whether the move is something to be welcomed.
The move towards monetization has sparked discussion among players, with some expressing enthusiasm and others expressing concerns. The popularity of Fortnite's Creative Mode is evident, with the Fortnite version of the Roblox meme game Steal A Brainrot recently having more concurrent players than official maps.
Despite the concerns, it's clear that this change offers a new dimension to Fortnite's Creative Mode. From November, a 'prominent Sponsored Row' will appear in Discover, allowing creators to pay for increased visibility for their islands. The other rows in Discover will remain unchanged, continuing to provide organic visibility.
As of now, there are no specific details available about which creators have been involved in implementing the new monetization features in Fortnite or their experiences so far. It remains to be seen how this transition will unfold and how it will impact the Fortnite community.
Read also:
- Grid Risk Evaluation Strategy By NERC Outlined, Focusing on Potential Threats from Data Centers
- Rapid Expansion in Organic Rice Protein Market Projected at 15.6% Through 2034
- The Virtual Commissioning Market is projected to exceed $4.86 billion by the year 2034.
- Kenya broadens economic zones featuring Olkaria's geothermal energy advantage
