Epic Games is making waves with its latest announcement concerning Fortnite Island creators. Sources suggest that creators are now beginning to test in-island transactions, which promises to transform how players interact with their custom islands. This new capability allows creators to sell a variety of items directly within their islands, including permanent goods, consumables, and the controversial loot-box-style “paid random items.” As this feature rolls out, Fortnite seems to be taking a step closer to the user-generated content model seen in games like Roblox.
Testing New Waters with In-Island Transactions
Currently in a preview phase, the ability to sell items is being tested within UEFN and is limited to unpublished projects. There’s anticipation for this feature to be expanded to published projects, though Epic has not yet provided a timeline. Once fully deployed, players will be able to make purchases using V-Bucks. To support this change, Epic has updated its developer guidelines, ensuring clarity on how these transactions will be managed.
What Creators Can Offer
Here’s what island creators will have the opportunity to sell:
- Durable items that remain across sessions
- Consumable items that deplete with use
- Gameplay items, including those with visual similarities to existing Fortnite cosmetics
- Bundles of durable, consumable, and gameplay items
- Paid random items with a new parental control feature
- Custom passes, progression systems, and exclusive areas
The introduction of “random rewards” akin to loot boxes is raising eyebrows, though it’s noteworthy that parental controls will manage the acquisition of these items in certain regions.
Restrictions and Potential Impact
Certain items remain off-limits for sale under the new rules. These include cosmetic items mimicking existing ones, items that could lower Epic’s pricing, physical goods, experience points, and any transaction that diverts players to external checkout systems. Despite these restrictions, the concept of in-island transactions is expected to significantly influence the Fortnite Islands culture. The gaming community is keen to see how these changes will shape the future of Fortnite, and Epic’s cautious approach, particularly with the introduction of loot boxes, is being closely observed.
