The Fortnite ecosystem is evolving at an unprecedented pace, driven by the creativity of its players and the commitment of Epic Games to refine the platform. In a recent discussion hosted by Matthew “Immature Gamer” Zazo, Epic Games’ Sax and Kent shed light on key topics, including discovery improvements, moderation, monetization, and the long-term vision for Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN). This discussion was a much-needed dialogue between Epic and the creator community, addressing both successes and pain points.

Fortnite Discovery: Finding the Right Content for the Right Players

One of the hottest topics was improving the Discovery system to ensure quality maps from creators of all sizes receive the visibility they deserve. Sax emphasized Epic’s core goal:

“The most important thing we can do when people are there is to not waste their time, to connect them with content—the content they want—at the time they want it, as fast as possible.”

This player-centric approach is at the heart of Epic’s decision-making, but it’s also a complex challenge. With 70,000 active creators and thousands of new and updated maps daily, balancing quality with discoverability remains an ongoing effort.

Favorite a Creator & Player-Centric Discovery

Kent highlighted that one of the most effective ways for creators to gain visibility is through the Favorite a Creator feature. This allows players to directly follow their favorite map builders, ensuring new content gets in front of an audience already interested in it.

“We’ve seen click-through rates as high as 70% for favorite creator updates, which is massive.”

This shift towards a player-driven discovery model means that rather than relying solely on algorithms, creators can actively build their own audience within Fortnite.

Addressing Shadow Banning and Algorithm Transparency

A major concern among creators has been whether shadow banning exists. Epic Games was clear on this:

“Unequivocally, we do not shadow ban creators.”

Instead, they clarified that spam filters exist to curb abuse. Some creators attempt to publish hundreds—or even thousands—of nearly identical maps in hopes of gaming the system. These maps often get filtered out, but Epic reassured creators that legitimate content should still have an opportunity to be tested and surfaced.

To further improve transparency, Epic is working on detailed performance metrics in the Creator Portal, which will show creators exactly how their maps are performing, why they were accepted or rejected, and what engagement patterns look like.

Combating Map Scams, IP Theft, and Exploitative Practices

The discussion also addressed fraudulent maps, misleading thumbnails, and asset reselling. Epic is taking an aggressive stance against bad actors who manipulate the system, including:

• Cracking down on fraudulent engagement metrics (e.g., botting and farming fake players).
• Taking legal action against IP theft and asset reselling.
• Issuing takedowns for scam-promoting content on platforms like TikTok and YouTube.

Kent emphasized that while moderation is improving, it remains an ongoing challenge:

“It’s a cat-and-mouse game. Scammers will always try to find loopholes, but we’re closing them as fast as we can.”

This proactive approach is crucial for ensuring fair competition among creators who follow the rules and invest in original content.

The Future of UEFN: A Five-Year Vision

Looking ahead, Epic Games is investing in a robust creator ecosystem that aligns with the evolving gaming landscape. Sax provided a glimpse into Fortnite’s long-term vision:

“Fortnite should be a place for every gamer on every platform, with minimal friction to get to content.”

This means expanding cross-platform capabilities, enhancing UEFN tools to allow for greater creative freedom, and ensuring that creators can build and sustain their careers in the ecosystem.

Earnings & Monetization: A Sustainable Model

Epic Games firmly believes in an engagement-based monetization model, where payouts are tied to the quality of experiences players engage with. They remain cautious about introducing pay-to-play mechanics or paywalled content, as these could create barriers to entry for players.

However, they did hint at future monetization options, suggesting that the current system is only the beginning of a more comprehensive creator economy.

Final Thoughts: A Community-Driven Ecosystem

One of the most significant takeaways from this discussion was Epic’s commitment to communication with creators. The Fortnite community has grown far beyond its original Battle Royale roots, and UEFN has unlocked new creative possibilities. As Epic continues refining Discover, moderation, and monetization, the platform is well-positioned to evolve into a true metaverse for gamers and creators alike.

Creators and players alike should continue providing feedback—because, as Sax put it:

“This ecosystem is built for you, and we need your voices to keep improving it.”

If you missed the event, you can view it on Youtube here:
Let’s chat about the Fortnite Ecosystem | Live with ImmatureGamer

With more transparency, better tools, and a player-first approach, Fortnite’s future looks brighter than ever. What do you think of these upcoming changes? Share your thoughts in The Creative Blok Discord!

Fortnite creators now have access to Engagement Payout Estimates, offering greater transparency into their potential earnings. Released on January 29, 2025, these estimates can be found in the Monetization tab of the Creator Portal, helping creators track their expected payouts based on available data.

How It Works

The Monetization tab now displays:

• Monthly payouts at the top for quick reference.
• Daily payout estimates through an interactive chart, defaulting to the last 30 days.
• Historical payout data since the island’s start in the Island Creator Program.

Important Considerations

While these estimates provide an approximation of earnings, they are not guarantees. Factors influencing the final payout include:

• Creator eligibility status
• Potential monetization bans
• Final data processing, which typically happens 30 days after the end of the applicable month.

Creators must reach a $100 minimum payout threshold within a 12-month period to receive a payout.

Enhanced Tracking and Insights

In addition to estimates, creators can now view daily breakdowns of past payouts, making it easier to track changes over time. Fortnite has also shared insights into the creator ecosystem, revealing that $352 million was paid to creators in 2024.

Access Your Payout Estimates

To explore this feature, visit your Project Monetization tab, in the Creator Portal today.
For further details, check out the official Fortnite announcement.

Epic Games just rolled out another update to its Fortnite Creator Rules, and this one is causing quite the stir in the community. Update 1.13.3, part of the broader “Keep It Authentic” directive, is designed to crack down on misleading content in Fortnite Creative. But what does it really mean for creators, and how are people reacting? Let’s dive in.

What’s in the Update?

The new rules are all about keeping the experience genuine and transparent for players. Epic Games reported that coins and terms like “AFK” and “XP” are being used in island thumbnails, titles, and other metadata to mislead players into believing that they can earn or unlock an impossibly high amount of XP. Spoilers, they don’t.

Our rules (1.13) prohibit using misleading content like this in your metadata. Creators have until February 4 to remove any misleading content, including references to AFK, XP, Coin farm, Coin slide, or images of Fortnite coins (or similar coins). Epic has stated that they will be removing this content from the ecosystem, and creators will receive escalating penalties – including impacts to monetization, island removal, and account suspension.

Here are the main takeaways from section 1.13: Keep it Authentic:

1.13 Keep It Authentic
Your promotional assets – including thumbnails, descriptions, and titles – must accurately represent the content in your Fortnite island. No more clickbait!

1.13.1 No Impersonations
Avoid using Fortnite’s own visuals or features in misleading ways. For instance, don’t create thumbnails that imply your map offers Fortnite XP if it doesn’t.

1.13.2 No Currency Mentions
References to V-Bucks, the Battle Pass, real-world money, or any rewards are strictly off-limits.

1.13.3 Crackdown on Misleading XP and Items
Terms like “AFK,” “XP,” “Coin farm,” or “Coin slide” are now banned from your map’s name, description, or promotional assets. Plus, you can’t use imagery like Fortnite coins in thumbnails or backgrounds to lure players under false pretenses.

1.13.4 No False Promises
Don’t mislead players about what kind of experience they’ll have in your map. Clarity and honesty are key.

How the Community is Reacting

The changes have been met with mixed reactions on Reddit’s r/FortniteCreative. Here are some highlights from the ongoing conversation:

“I’m actually happy about this. There’s way too many maps that promise easy XP or rewards and end up being clickbait garbage.” – u/CreativeWanderer

“This is gonna hurt small creators who use trending keywords like ‘XP’ just to get noticed. Epic should’ve added some kind of support for us before dropping this.” – u/StruggleBusMaps

“About time they cleaned up the ‘coin farm’ nonsense. Those maps were ruining the experience for everyone who actually wanted to play legit games.” – u/RealFortniteFan

The consensus? Many support the idea of cleaning up the platform, but some creators are concerned about how it might stifle their ability to market maps effectively, especially smaller creators trying to break into the scene.

What Does This Mean for the Future?

For players, this update is a win. They’re less likely to waste time on maps that don’t deliver what’s promised. For creators, though, it’s a double-edged sword. On one hand, it raises the bar for quality and transparency, but on the other, it restricts certain marketing strategies that helped maps gain visibility.

Smaller creators may need to rethink their promotional strategies entirely. Without buzzwords like “XP farm” or eye-catching thumbnails filled with fake rewards, standing out in the crowded Creative marketplace could become much harder. On the flip side, this could also lead to higher-quality maps being discovered more often as misleading ones are weeded out.

Long-term, these rules could encourage a healthier ecosystem within Fortnite Creative. If the focus shifts to gameplay quality rather than gimmicks, the community’s trust in Creative maps might grow. However, Epic’s enforcement of these rules will be critical. Consistency and fairness will make or break the success of this update.

Stay Updated and Stay Connected

Creators, make sure you’re fully up-to-date on all the rules to avoid any unpleasant surprises. You can check out the full Fortnite Creator Rules here.

Got thoughts on this update? Join our Discord community to discuss this and other Fortnite Creative topics with fellow creators and players. Click here to join!

Let’s keep the conversation going!