Fortnite Players Demand Boycott Amid Rising V-Buck Prices

Earlier this week, Fortnite announced that V-Bucks are about to get pricier. That’s right, they’re implementing shrinkflation on virtual currency; the nine dollars that used to snag you a neat 1,000 V-Bucks will soon only net you 800. Subscribers to Fortnite Crew are also feeling the pinch. This price increase comes amid rising costs across the gaming landscape, prompting some players to call for a boycott in response to Epic’s latest decision.

“The cost of running Fortnite has increased significantly, and we’re raising prices to help cover those expenses,” stated Epic in a blog post detailing the change. Meanwhile, the cost of Battle Passes is being adjusted downward to align with the new pricing, so the Fortnite OG Battle Pass will now be available for 800 V-Bucks instead of 1,000.

However, Epic hasn’t mentioned any changes to the pricing of item shop cosmetics. One player even created a graph showing how this price adjustment could lead to players spending hundreds more over time.

Understandably, the Fortnite community is in an uproar over this news. Some players are even rallying for a boycott. “You cut our V-Bucks. We cut your funding,” wrote one user who started a petition for a price reversal, which has already gathered over 1,000 signatures.

In an attempt to ease the tension, Epic is taking a “we understand your concerns” approach. “There’s been a lot of feedback not just about the V-Bucks changes, but also about your feelings regarding Fortnite as a whole—especially this current season,” read a follow-up post from the company. “We can’t wait to show you next week’s update.”

So far, this strategy hasn’t been effective. The most circulated graphic on social media calls for a Fortnite boycott on March 19, the day the price hike is set to take effect: “Our goal: lower the player count on the first day of the new season.”

Epic was asked about the backlash in a recent interview. “I think what we put out publicly is pretty accurate,” said Epic’s senior director of ecosystem growth. “It’s purely about the operating costs of running a business, and that was the main driver. We’re committed to creating amazing games and gameplay, but the price hike is directly tied to those operating costs.”

Only time will tell how many players will join the boycott and whether this loosely organized effort will impact one of the most popular video games ever. The frustration from the community is clearly being acknowledged.

“Seeing comments like ‘the Item Shop is the main focus instead of the game’ hits me really hard. It’s not the impression we want to give nor how we focus our efforts,” the director responded to criticism from a Fortnite content creator. “We put a ton of work and care into Fortnite’s gameplay, and this focus is only growing. Paying the bills allows our teams to continue driving stories and building the experiences you love.”