Epic's Fortnite V-Bucks discount aims to shame Apple and Google

Epic Games has made the stunning announcement that it's permanently lowering Fortnite V-Buckspricesby a stellar 20%. That's not all, though — the company behind Fortnite and theBallsy Games Shop is calling outApple tree andGoogle's 30% cut of purchases made on their corresponding storefronts.

The permanent twenty% toll drop onFortnite V-Bucks prices applies to all platforms, regardless of how you pay. This same discount also applies to real-money offers purchased for the game, but it won't quite work the same on mobile devices; instead, you lot'll have to use a new "Epic straight payment" selection if it'southward bachelor in your country.

"Today, we're also introducing a new fashion to pay on iOS and Android: Epic straight payment," read a news mail service onFortnite's website. "When you cull to use Epic straight payments, you save upwards to xx% as Epic passes along payment processing savings to you."

"Currently, when using Apple and Google payment options, Apple and Google collect a thirty% fee, and the upward to twenty% toll drop does not apply," the news post continued. "If Apple tree or Google lower their fees on payments in the future, Ballsy will pass forth the savings to yous."

Fortnite V-Bucks prices Apple App Store Google Play

Ballsy Games calling out the percent-based cuts taken by stores isn't annihilation new. The Ballsy Games Store was revealed dorsum in 2018 with just as 12% acquirement cutting compared to the 30% of Steam and other storefronts. It promised transparency to developers and has spent the last two years giving away free games every one to two weeks to get more than people onto its platform.

Information technology'due south unclear how Ballsy Games has managed to create the Epic direct payment system. Apple, for example, requires that developers pay them a xxx% cut of in-app purchases. Epic direct payment can be seen as a shot across the bow for both Apple and Google — taking downFortnite from either platform, even temporarily, would likely spark outrage.

The unassailable success ofFortnite gave Epic Games the clout and financial ability to take on Steam and other digital retailers on PC. At present, it looks like they're finally bringing the fight to mobile storefronts. I can't say for sure how Google and Apple volition respond to the changes inFortnite5-Bucks prices and Epic direct payment, just I smell a serious showdown coming.