Epic Games is taking another big step toward transforming Fortnite into more than just a battle royale. Beginning in December 2025, Fortnite creators will soon be able to sell in-game items directly from the custom islands they’ve built. This marks a major shift for the game’s creator economy, opening up new ways for developers to monetize their content.

Currently, creators earn primarily through engagement-based revenue. With this update, they’ll now gain access to a direct sales system. Epic confirmed that creators will normally earn 50% of the V-Bucks value from sales, but through 2026, they’ll receive a temporary boost to 100% of the V-Bucks value to encourage adoption.

How the Fortnite Creator Revenue Split Works

Epic has clarified how this system will function. The “V-Bucks value” isn’t a flat exchange rate — it’s calculated based on total real-money spending to purchase V-Bucks, minus platform and store fees, then divided by the total V-Bucks spent by players.

Currently, Fortnite’s average platform and store fees sit at around 26%, ranging from 12% on the Epic Games Store to 30% on consoles. This means:

• 50% of V-Bucks value = ~37% of retail spending

• 100% of V-Bucks value = ~74% of retail spending

For creators, this could translate into meaningful revenue streams beyond engagement metrics.

New Tools for Fortnite Item Creation

To support this change, Epic is rolling out new development tools. Creators will soon have access to:

• Verse-based API for item customization

• UEFN tools to design purchasable durable items and consumables

These tools are expected to expand what creators can offer inside Fortnite, from cosmetic items to gameplay-enhancing consumables. More details about supported features and rollout are coming soon.

Why This Matters for Fortnite’s Future

By letting creators sell in-game items, Epic is doubling down on its vision of Fortnite as a platform, not just a game. This move strengthens Fortnite’s ecosystem, gives developers more financial incentive, and could make user-generated islands even more innovative.

For players, it means more variety, creativity, and unique items tied directly to community-made experiences. For creators, it’s a long-awaited chance to turn passion projects into sustainable businesses.

The announcement that Fortnite creators will soon be able to sell in-game items is one of the most significant updates to Fortnite’s creator economy yet. Starting in December, this change could reshape not just Fortnite but the broader conversation around user-generated content in gaming.

Epic is betting big on creators — and the future of Fortnite looks more like a creative marketplace than a simple battle royale