Epic Games: New creator system offers 40% of Fortnite revenue

Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, has announced a new system that allows creators to earn money from the game. Epic will give 40 percent of its Fortnite revenue to those who create “islands.” This includes the money that players earn through the purchase of V-Bucks and real money spent on various items in the game.

Players can create unique experiences in the game through their personal islands with customized regulations and layouts. The creator’s earnings depend on the popularity of their island and the number of users who frequently visit the island.

In addition to players, Epic also implied that companies could earn money through the program by allowing professional game developers to release their own creations on Fortnite and receive compensation, similar to Roblox.

However, the phrasing is not clear on whether Epic itself can also obtain a share of the 40 percent allocation, potentially reducing the amount going to third-party creators.

Get ready to create.

Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) available now in Public Beta on PC. Download: https://t.co/64xBgpsT6X pic.twitter.com/rIA4TSgw1a

— Unreal Engine 🔜 GDC (@UnrealEngine) March 22, 2023

Approximately half of the gameplay in Fortnite currently consists of content produced by users, but these third-party maps are about to be significantly enhanced. Epic has revealed that Fortnite will be equipped with an Unreal Engine editor currently accessible in a public beta version.

The editor is designed to allow users to import their existing assets and content from Unreal Engine into Fortnite. It also provides them with a variety of base game systems. During a Game Developers Conference (GDC) presentation, Epic showed off some of the projects created using the tool. One of these projects featured a full cinematic with seamless transitions into third-person shooting.

The tool comes with various features, such as landscape editing and switching between in-game and offline modes. It also allows users to use Verse, a custom programming language for Unreal Editor.

During the presentation, Epic noted that the increasing number of Island Creators has helped boost the game’s revenue. It also noted that players who spend money in the game’s in-game store are more likely to engage with the Custom Islands.

Modifying creator system

Given the introduction of the new editor, it is reasonable to assume that Epic Games would modify its creator system. The previous creator program for Fortnite provided relatively small rewards for aspiring amateur game developers.

Creators were given a personal code, and if their supporters entered the code when purchasing an item from the Fortnite store, they received only five percent of the revenue.

Under Epic’s new creator program, Creator Economy 2.0, users can receive part of the 40 percent shared revenue. Creators who register before April 21 will receive retroactive compensation for any island engagement from March 1 onward. To qualify for payment, creators must be at least 18 years old and have a minimum account age of 90 days.

Comparing Epic’s new creator system with Apple’s ‘monopoly’

Until last year, Epic was in a legal battle with Apple over alleged anti-competitive behavior, claiming that the iOS App Store’s 30 percent cut of in-app purchases was unfair. The lawsuit began in 2020 when Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store after Epic implemented a new payment mechanism to circumvent Apple’s in-app purchase system.

The initial verdict was mixed, with both companies appealing the decision. Epic continued to push for third-party payments, while Apple sought to maintain control over its payment channels. The judge ruled that Apple was not a monopoly, but it could not prevent apps from directing customers to alternative payment processors to avoid the 30 percent fee.

While comparing Apple’s app marketplace to Epic’s in-game creator earnings is complex, the details of Fortnite’s new payment model may impact the ongoing appeals process between the two companies. Epic asserts that app developers are forced to use Google and Apple stores, while Fortnite provides an alternate revenue stream for creators.