Bad news for gamers: Epic Games has decided to increase the cost of V-Bucks, the in-game currency of Fortnite.
Reports tell us that this price hike, effective today, has raised the cost by approximately 12.5 percent.
Players who have become accustomed to splurging on V-Bucks for virtual cosmetics, skins, and other in-game items will now have to fork out a few extra dollars for their digital fashion and flair.
Why the Price Increase?
The decision to increase V-Bucks prices was initially announced last month and takes effect today, October 27, 2023.
Epic Games cites various economic factors, including inflation and currency fluctuations, as the driving forces behind this move.
The updated pricing would affect the United States, as well as the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Japan, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Turkey, and all Eurozone countries.
Here's the breakdown of the V-Bucks price increase:
- 1,000 V-bucks: $9 (originally $8)
- 2,800 V-bucks: $23 (originally $20)
- 5,000 V-bucks: $37 (originally $32)
- 13,500 V-bucks: $90 (originally $80)
To paint the picture, Kotaku tells us that the Fortnite shop's latest addition, the Alan Wake 2-themed skins, would have previously set you back $20 for the entire set.
Now, it will cost $23. While it might not seem like a substantial increase, it can certainly add up for players who frequently indulge in in-game purchases.
Everything's Getting More Expensive
This V-Bucks price hike is not an isolated incident in the gaming industry. Many aspects of gaming, from subscription services to new games and consoles, have been getting more expensive.
Xbox Series X and Xbox Game Pass Gets Price Hike: Microsoft Raising Prices for Everything?
This price increase also comes on the heels of Epic Games' decision to cut over 800 staff members last month, acknowledging overspending on the company's part.
More from Fortnite
Epic Games is also making headlines for its plan to revisit Fortnite's very first battle royale mode map from 2017's Chapter 1. This update aims to rekindle the interest of players who may have drifted away from the game over the years.
It raises questions about what new creative directions Fortnite's battle royale mode can explore, especially since Epic's chief creative officer, Donald Mustard, retired from the industry last month.
VGC tells us that it is also worth noting that while the cost of V-Bucks is increasing, Fortnite Crew subscription pricing remains unaffected.
Additionally, Epic Games recently announced that all experiences published in Fortnite will soon require an age rating to protect players from unsuitable content.
They have partnered with the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) to implement this system, which will be mandatory for all first and third-party playable content starting November 14, 2023.
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