Epic Games Imposes New Restrictions on Fortnite Creators: Prize Wheel Transactions Banned
In a swift and decisive move, Epic Games is introducing a significant new rule for Fortnite creators, just days after empowering them with the ability to implement in-game transactions. Effective January 20th, creators will no longer be permitted to offer ‘spin’ or ‘increased luck’ transactions for prize wheels within their custom ‘islands’ – a direct response to recent controversies surrounding popular experiences.
The Catalyst: ‘Steal The Brainrot’ and Player Outcry
The impetus for this new regulation appears to be ‘Steal The Brainrot,’ one of Fortnite’s most prominent non-Epic creations. This experience recently integrated a prize wheel system that allowed players to spend V-Bucks, Fortnite’s in-game currency, for spins and ‘luck’ boosts to acquire virtual items. The addition of these transactions, alongside lootboxes, quickly drew widespread criticism from the player community, as reported by IGN.
A Shifting Landscape for Creator Monetization
Until this month, Epic Games maintained a system where creators were compensated solely through an engagement-based model, rather than direct in-game sales. This contrasted sharply with competitors like Roblox, which has long allowed its creators to sell in-game items directly. Epic’s recent policy shift aimed to grant “independent Fortnite developers more agency over their creative and commercial decisions,” opening the door for in-island transactions.
Creator Payouts and Future Adjustments
As part of this new monetization framework, Epic committed to paying creators 100 percent of the V-Bucks value generated from in-island transactions through the end of the current year. This generous rate is slated to adjust to 50 percent after 2026, indicating a long-term vision for a shared revenue model.
The Explicit Ban: What Creators Can No Longer Do
The new rule is unambiguous, directly targeting any influence over prize wheels. An Epic staffer on Reddit outlined the specifics of the ban:
“Do not offer any in-island transactions that directly or indirectly influence prize wheels.”
The following examples are explicitly prohibited:
- A luck boost designed to improve outcomes on a prize wheel.
- In-game content that can be used to purchase a spin on a prize wheel.
- Any form of spin on a prize wheel, whether a single spin, extra spin, or a bundle of spins.
This rapid policy adjustment underscores Epic’s commitment to maintaining a fair and player-friendly environment within Fortnite’s expansive creator ecosystem, even as it navigates the complexities of empowering independent developers.
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