One ofFortnite’s most sought-after cosmetics is finally returning to the item shop after years of absence, and the demand has turned into a big payday for Epic. Though this particular application of the rotating storefront has been incredibly lucrative forFortnite, Epic should try for a more permanent solution that benefits both the game and its fans.
Fortnitehas massively changed the gaming industry, both for better and for worse. The game, alongsidePUBG, put battle royales on the map, kicking off a trend that still lasts to this day. Moreover, it’s the leading cause behind the influx of brand integration in games, which has become a major part of everything fromMortal Kombat 1toApex Legends.
Fortnite Should Un-Vault Its Retired Items
However, perhaps the biggest impactFortnitehas had on the industry is in regard to monetization. Not only did it translate the freemium model into the AAA market, which has now become the standard, but it introduced the Battle Pass. Despite the ubiquity of the Battle Pass, though, it could be argued thatFortnite’s revolving item shophas had an even greater reach. The revolving item shop has replaced lootboxes in many games (save for cases likeApex Legends, which double-dip), with its use of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) substituting a spiral of chance for impulse purchases.
A clear example of this FOMO strategy has recently surfaced.Fortnite’s Jagged Edge pickaxehas returned to the item shop after 5 years, a drought that betrays the collector value behind its unassuming Uncommon rarity. This is a tried-and-true strategy, not only forFortniteand its contemporaries, but for other major brands—such as Disney’s old vault strategy. Though this technique may be a big breadwinner, making regular items more valuable and increasing impulse purchases, it’s one that breeds discontent among fans. The game would be better off if it allowed fans constant access to old materials.
Fortnite Could Be Losing Out By Keeping Items Off The Shelf
To go back to the Disney example,the Disney Vault was a strategywhere the company’s old animated films would only see limited releases. After a certain period, these films re-entered the ‘Vault’, away from public release. However, that all changed with Disney+; Disney placed the vast majority of its inventory onto a single streaming service—leading to some big profits. Disney+ has many flaws, but fans definitely prefer it to scarcity and skyrocketing after-market prices.
In a similar vein, Epic is likely losing money by keeping items off the market. Despite not even being 10 years old,there’s already nostalgia forFortnite—and Epic could be raking in big numbers from that fact. A permanent section for old items would devalue them, but it would also allow Epic to reap the rewards of keeping these items off shelves for so long. If the company keeps these items vaulted, though, this dripfeed release schedule will likely lead to diminishing returns.
On that subject,Fortnite’s reliance on FOMOis a net negative for both this game specifically and the industry at large. Though the impulse purchases it encourages have led to some dramatic increases in revenue, it’s a strategy that risks fan wallets (and patience) running dry. Every game out there is now trying to rush its players along, their stores in constant rotation, but that can’t last forever. 2024 has marked a turning point in the live service market, with major failures likeConcordandKill the Justice Leaguemissing industry expectations by a mile. It would be best forFortniteand its peers to get ahead of the curve on this issue.
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