Last month Epic announced that it would raise the price of Fortnite V-Bucks and some real-money content packs on October 27, 2023. The upward price review of about 12.5% is expected to take effect in some countries later today.
“These adjustments are based on economic factors such as inflation and currency fluctuations, and follow similar pricing alignments recently completed in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Mexico,” the company said in a statement last month.
V-Bucks is an in-game currency used by players to purchase skins and other cosmetics in the Battle Royale mode. The countries affected by the price adjustments include the Czech Republic, Denmark, Eurozone countries, Hungary, Japan, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Turkey, and the United States. Below is a highlight of new V-Bucks prices.
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- 1,000 V-Bucks increased from $7.99 to $8.99
- 2,800 V-Bucks increased from $19.99 to $22.99
- 5,000 V-Bucks increased from $31.99 to $36.99
- 13,500 V-Bucks increased from $79.99 to $89.99
The price changes did not affect the Fortnite Crew subscription, thankfully. The Fortnite team also mentioned that the price of the Transformers Pack, Saint Academy Quest Pack, Graveyard Drift Quest Pack, Skull Squad Pack, and The Final Reckoning Pack will be adjusted whenever they are available.
Earlier this month, it was also revealed that Fortnite may soon include age rating, a move designed to shield players from accessing content deemed unsuitable for their age. Consequently, Epic is partnering with the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) to implement the new system. The system is expected to apply to first-party and third-party playable content when it comes into effect on November 14.
Fortnite V-Bucks price hike is a sign of bigger distress in the gaming industry
Gamers spend billions every year to purchase in-game currency and cosmetics for their characters. The price adjustment of Fortnite V-Bucks is a reminder that the gaming industry is not insulated from global economic factors. While lots of Fortnite players will be disappointed by the price hike, it appears to be an inevitable decision the company had to take for the sustainable development of the game.
This year has seen one of the worst layoffs in the gaming industry with most studios across different countries announcing job cuts. The massive layoffs have been blamed on a combination of poor game sales and inflation.
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Everything in the gaming industry is becoming more expensive, from subscription services to new games and consoles. Companies are raising the prices of new games, subscription services, and everything they can to make up for the sales drop.
On the other hand, the cutting of headcount and reduction in hiring are seen as ways of conserving resources. Epic Games announced last month it would cut over 800 roles. In addition to that, they would sell their music platform Bandcamp to Songtradr.
While the employees laid off at Epic will still qualify for six months of severance, the chaotic approach of the layoff drew criticism from those who believe those at the top should also be made to feel the impact of their poor decisions and not just those at the bottom.
Epic teases return of first battle royale mode map
Epic today teased the return of its first battle royal mode map with a tweet that read “Sprint (or Mantle, your choice) back to Chapter 1… see you soon 11.3.2023″. The move is believed to be an attempt to give a nostalgic feeling to players that may have bounced off the game since the Chapter 1 battle royale mode in 2017.
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Arguably another attempt to save the game is piggybacking on critical releases like Alan Wake which launched today. Epic announced that “The Alan Wake Outfit is available for purchase” on Fortnite now. However, it may take more than fancy skins and nostalgia to save the game.
Epic has also unleashed a slew of other character skins for the Halloween season including Jack O’Sassin and The Pumpkin King Set featuring the Disney Jack Skellington Outfit. Will you purchase any of these skins? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.
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