Fortnite Introduces New Metric to Reward Creators Based on Player Spending

Fortnite maker, Epic Games, is implementing a new update to its engagement-based payout formula, which rewards creators for player spending. This update, known as “Creator Economy 2.0,” aims to further incentivize creators and enhance the overall growth of the Fortnite economy.

Under the existing program, Epic pays creators who develop experiences for Fortnite from a designated portion of the game’s net revenues, comprising 40 percent. Notably, Epic is also eligible to receive a share of this pool.

Initially, two key metrics used for determining payouts were player popularity and player retention. However, Epic later introduced a third metric, time played, to further reward creators. Now, Epic is adding another metric that specifically rewards creators when players spend in-game currency, V-Bucks, either one week before or after engaging with the creator’s custom-made Fortnite experience.

To illustrate this new metric, if players purchase the upcoming Alan Wake outfit before participating in Epic’s Alan Wake-themed Fortnite experience, the purchase would contribute to the payouts received by Epic as part of the Creator Economy 2.0 program.

According to Fortnite’s blog post, this new metric allows Epic to more accurately recognize a creator’s impact on the shared engagement payout pool and the overall growth of the Fortnite economy. The new metric will take effect on November 1st, and the first payouts incorporating it will be distributed on December 30th.

Epic Games emphasizes that creating fun and engaging experiences is crucial for long-term creator success. Notably, the company recently revamped Fortnite’s user interface to promote creator-made maps, resembling a YouTube-like design.

CEO Tim Sweeney addressed the importance placed on Fortnite creators, stating that the game’s growth is primarily driven by creator content and revenue sharing. However, he also noted that this shift towards creator-focused initiatives has impacted the economics of Epic’s business, as creator-focused content generates lower profit margins compared to the early successes of Fortnite Battle Royale.

Interestingly, Sweeney mentioned that player engagement in third-party Fortnite experiences now surpasses that of first-party experiences.

As Fortnite gears up for its annual Halloween event, players can expect to find in-game outfits featuring popular spooky characters like Alan Wake, Michael Myers, and Jack Skellington available for purchase leading up to the holiday.

With this latest update to the Creator Economy 2.0 program, Fortnite continues to prioritize and support its creators, further solidifying its position as a leader in the gaming industry.

Update: The article has been updated to include additional information from Epic Games’ blog post.