Epic Games Announces Major Payout Increase for Fortnite Creators

Epic Games has announced a landmark overhaul of the Fortnite creator economy, revealing that creators will be able to sell in-game items directly from their custom islands starting this December. 

The move represents one of the most significant evolutions for the platform, and it will launch with an unprecedented promotional offer. For the first year, from December 2025 through the end of 2026, creators will receive 100% of the V-Bucks value from sales made on their islands. 

After platform fees, this translates to creators receiving approximately 74% of the retail revenue, a figure that significantly surpasses the 25% payout model on competing platforms like Roblox.

Epic Games will launch a new feature called Direct Creator Commerce that enables developers using Unreal Editor for Fortnite to create and sell durable and consumable in-game items through new tools within the platform. The feature provides creators with a direct monetization avenue beyond Epic's current engagement-based payout system.

The update represents a significant shift in Epic's approach to creator compensation, offering map makers substantial financial incentives to develop high-quality experiences that retain players and drive in-game purchases.

Epic built the new commerce system on an established user base. Since Creative Mode's launch, players have logged more than 11.2 billion hours across 260,000 creator-made islands, according to company figures. That engagement has generated $722 million in creator payouts, with seven individuals earning more than $10 million each.

The creative community has responded positively to the changes. The new monetization model allows creators to generate income from their work, which Epic expects will drive development of more sophisticated games within Fortnite.

Players can anticipate higher-quality and more diverse experiences in the platform's Discover tab. Epic said it will allocate 50% of sponsorship revenue to the engagement payout pool shared among all creators.

The company plans to introduce additional tools in November to expand the creator ecosystem. A "Sponsored Row" feature will launch in the Discover tab on Nov. 24, enabling creators to purchase visibility for their islands through a bidding system. Creators can set up campaigns through the Creator Portal starting Nov. 17.

The updates mark the next step in Fortnite's evolution from a battle royale game with creative features into a creator-focused platform where users can develop content, engage with experiences and monetize their work.