Epic bans prize-wheel transactions on Fortnite Creative islands

Polygon reports Epic Games has amended its developer rules for Fortnite Creative to bar any in-island transactions that "directly or indirectly influence prize wheels," a change the company said will take effect on Jan. 20.

The update follows backlash after Creative builders were allowed to offer in-game purchases and a popular map, Steal the Brainrot, added random item bundles costing up to 4,900 V-bucks and a prize wheel that increased a player's "luck" with each spin. Epic's examples of prohibited behaviour include purchasable "luck" boosts, content that can be used to buy a wheel spin, and any purchasable wheel spin itself. At the same time, Epic's rules still permit paid random, loot box–style items on Creative islands; Brian Sharon, senior communications manager at Epic Games, said, "No paid random items are coming to Epic-made games."

Epic's developer rules also require creators to disclose numerical odds for random items and cap Creative island item prices at 5,000 V-bucks, and the company offers parental tools to block purchases. Creators currently keep 100% of revenue from island transactions, but beginning February 2027 income will be split evenly with Epic, and the report said it remains unclear how that future split might affect whether Creative transactions are considered Epic products.

Key Topics

Tech, Epic Games, Fortnite, V-bucks, Loot Boxes, Federal Trade Commission