Update: Epic Games reached out to clarify certain restrictions already in place regarding paid random items in Creative mode maps. Per information outlined on its In Island Transactions Restrictions page, "as required by local law, Paid Random Items are restricted" in Singapore, Australia, Qatar, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom (for players under 18), and Brazil (for players under 18, effective March 2026).
Original story:
Fortnite is now allowing devs behind user-generated Creative mode maps to sell their own in-game purchases, opening the door for even more spending, now even on things like loot boxes.
After a delay from last November, Creative mode transactions went live a few days ago – folks who make islands (maps) using Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) will earn 100% of the value of V-Bucks (in-game currency) spent in their games until January 31, 2027, and after that, they'll earn 50%, according to Epic Games. This can arguably be considered a good way to support these devs, but things become a little more uncomfortable when you look at what can actually be sold.
Obviously, Fortnite is no stranger to in-game purchases, with the regular Item Shop selling cosmetics like skins, emotes, and back blings daily – and that's in addition to the steady stream of new battle passes. However, it doesn't sell loot boxes or anything gambling-adjacent, which is what makes certain allowances for in-island transactions particularly surprising.
There are a few rules over what Creative mode devs are allowed to sell – "items that visually overlap with other Fortnite cosmetics categories, but are purely cosmetic and offer no gameplay value," for example, are banned, but they can sell gameplay items, consumables, and "paid random items (items that provide a chance to receive a random reward)." It's that last point in particular that's leaving a bad taste in some players' mouths, especially since paid random items have already been incorporated into Steal the Brainrot – quite easily the most popular third-party Creative mode map.
As highlighted across social media, it's now possible to spend V-Bucks to get a random abomination (officially, sigh, brainrot), from what's essentially a loot box. These vary in price, but for example, a single "Present Rot" box costs 2,700 V-Bucks, and you can get two bundled together for 4,900. For reference, most of Fortnite's popular collab skins cost 1,500 V-Bucks, and that bundle of two Present Rots costs about $37 in real-world dollars (assuming you buy a 5,000 V-Buck pack – smaller increments would see it cost even more). This same map also allows players to spend V-Bucks on a boosted-odds wheel spin, once again with random rewards.
Technically, lootboxes are now in Fortnite with this feature 😠pic.twitter.com/soDPFVIWVLJanuary 10, 2026
"This feature sucks. I can get around game passes that offer guaranteed better items (Pay To Win) BUT any UEFN map that promises a percent CHANCE to get better items for V-Bucks should not be allowed," one player argues, concerned that with Steal the Brainrot in particular being largely targeted toward children, "they will mindlessly spend thousands of v-bucks for a CHANCE to get better in-game items, and they will fall into this trap / loop every single time they find a map with little things they like."
"I was optimistic about In-Island Translations, but after seeing this gambling style wheel In Steal The Brainrot I think I'm all set," writes another.
I was optimistic about In-Island Translations, but after seeing this gambling style wheel In Steal The Brainrot I think I'm all set... pic.twitter.com/gMXjIOg1g4January 11, 2026
It remains to be seen if any further restrictions end up being put in place for in-island purchases, especially considering how controversial loot boxes have become around the world – they're banned altogether in Belgium. Fortnite: Save the World even removed its own random loot boxes (in the form of llamas) years ago, with an update that opted to show players the contents of a llama before purchasing.
