"It's almost as if they're trying to kill off the game": Fortnite faces fan backlash over V-Bucks price increase, while Epic lead argues "paying the bills" helps devs keep "building stuff you love"

Fortnite developer and publisher Epic Games has caused waves among fans after revealing plans to raise the price of V-Bucks and leave optional purchases like the Battle Pass with far less value – but the creators stand strong behind their decision to increase the pricing.

Andrea Balta, senior director of ecosystem growth at Epic Games, speaks on the matter in a new online post, replying directly to a disappointed player.

"Seeing comments like 'the Item Shop is the main focus instead of the game' hits me really hard," writes Balta. "It's not the impression we want to give, nor how we focus our efforts. We put a ton of work and care into Fortnite's gameplay, and this focus is only growing."

The dev then concludes, "Paying the bills frees up our teams to continue driving stories and building stuff you love." Unsurprisingly, fans aren't exactly convinced – in fact, many seem angry.

"Oh, I feel sooooooooo sorry that your poor little billion-dollar megacorporation can't afford to keep the lights on," reads one reply. "You must be struggling to feed your families with those 10 billion dollars you made last year. Should we start a charity fund?"

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It's an especially charged response, all things considered, but the community seems distraught all around. A separate thread outlining how "the Battle Pass will now cost 800 V-Bucks and award 800 V-Bucks for completing it" instead of 1,500 with bonus rewards included shows as much.

One person asks, "Why they acting like they're poor and in desperate need of money?" Another adds, "This is genuinely one of the worst changes they've done."

Elsewhere, somebody argues in their own post that, "Epic posted this at the WORST possible time, right as so many people were leaving the game, bored of the season, right at a low point anyway, they decided to drop a real bomb and make everything so much worse. It's almost as if they're trying to kill off the game at this point."

Comments see folks agree, with a person dubbing the price increase a "diabolical fumble this season."

Another player replies directly to the sentiment that Epic somehow needs help "paying the bills," exclaiming, "'Help pay the bills'" – MAN FUCK UR BILLS WHAT ABOUT OURS?"

It's certainly not looking good in the Fortnite fandom right now, that's for sure, and people aren't sure how this will work out when the next season starts. As one user says, "Doing this just BEFORE a new season is CRAZY. All your good faith is already gone."

Here's hoping Epic Games listens to its community and considers some changes – changes that don't see prices increasing anymore, that is. It's evident players aren't satisfied with how things are turning out now, even if the devs argue it's necessary.

Searching for something else to play other than Fortnite right now? Be sure to browse our roundup of the best Battle Royale games out there.