Epic Games Hikes Fortnite V-Bucks Prices to ‘Help Pay the Bills’: Here are the Changes

Epic Games has announced a big shift in the Fortnite economy, revealing that V-Bucks prices will increase later this month (your kids better start collecting more pop cans every month). The company pointed to rising operational expenses as the primary reason for the change, which is set to take effect on March 19.

“The cost of running Fortnite has gone up a lot and we’re raising prices to help pay the bills,” Epic Games stated on Tuesday.

The update represents a form of shrinkflation within the game’s ecosystem. While the dollar price of currency packs remains the same, players will receive fewer V-Bucks for their money.

For example, the entry-level $8.99 US pack ($11.99 CAD) will drop from 1,000 to 800 V-Bucks, and the largest $89.99 US ($119.99 CAD) pack will now award 12,500 V-Bucks instead of the previous 13,500. The medium pack at $22.99 US ($29.99 CAD) will now be worth 2,400, instead of 2,800. The large pack at $36.99 US ($47.99 CAD) will now shrink from 13,500 to 12,500 V-Bucks.

Major Changes to Battle Passes and Rewards

To offset the currency devaluation, Epic is lowering the V-Bucks cost of its various in-game passes. The standard Battle Pass and the OG Pass will now cost 800 V-Bucks, down from 1,000. However, the potential rewards for completing these passes have also been reduced.

Previously, players could earn back their 1,000 V-Bucks plus an additional 500 in bonus rewards. Under the new system, the Battle Pass will award exactly 800 V-Bucks. Epic confirmed that “yes, you can earn 800 V-Bucks when completing the Battle Pass, which is enough to get the next one,” but noted that there are no longer V-Bucks included in the Bonus Rewards.

Other passes are seeing similar price drops:

• Music Pass: 1,200 V-Bucks (previously 1,400)
• LEGO Pass: 1,200 V-Bucks (previously 1,400)
• Battle Bundle: 2,600 V-Bucks (previously 2,800)

20% Back in Epic Rewards

Epic is heavily promoting its Epic Rewards program as a way to mitigate the price hike. Players who make purchases through the Epic Games Store or Epic’s own payment system on PC, iOS, Android, and web will receive 20% back in credit. This credit can be applied toward future purchases in Fortnite, Fall Guys, Rocket League, or any title on the Epic Games Store.

For those holding onto physical V-Bucks gift cards, the company confirmed they will “still redeem at their printed values,” meaning any cards currently in the wild or in stores won’t lose their original worth after the March 19 deadline.

Fortnite is of course still free to play, but players always want to upgrade items and buy the in-game Battle Pass. The devaluation of V-Bucks definitely will turn some players off, with many kids now moving back to Minecraft, which has seen a rise in popularity again.