Fortnite is currently available for purchase, but the colorful survival shooter is actually planned as a free-to-play game. So why does Fortnite cost so much right now and what is the deal with Early Access and the PvP mode? Here you will find all the information about Fortnite’s payment system
Fortnite excites many players but causes confusion. Everything currently indicates that the colorful coop shooter from Epic Games is not free, but a Buy2Play title that you buy once and then play without restrictions.
After all, Fortnite is currently also available as a box version starting at 39.00 euros on Amazon and in computer specialty stores. So is this already the full version as offered in the PlayStation Store?
However, the matter is a bit more complicated …
Fortnite – Buy2Play in Early Access, free at release
In reality, Fortnite is a free-to-play game that is funded by microtransactions. However, this payment model will only be fully implemented at the final launch of Fortnite. The release is, according to a blog entry by a developer from Epic Games, planned for sometime in 2018.
Note that Fortnite supports cross-play and cross-buy. If you purchased Fortnite for PC, you can also play it on PS4 if you link the accounts! The game progress will even be synchronized.
The following facts apply to Fortnite:
Free-to-play release and microtransactions
- The game will sometime be free-to-play
- However, you can already make microtransactions for real money and buy real currency. This “V-Bucks” can also be earned in the game for completing certain tasks.
Content and purchase of founder packages
- On the Epic Games homepage, founder packages for Fortnite are available. These are priced at 39,–, 59,–, 89,–, and 149,– euros. Each package grants full access to the game and offers additional goodies such as blueprints, storage, and heroes depending on the value.
- In the PlayStation Store, it is misleadingly referred to as a “full version” of Fortnite, but the product description states the fancy marketing term “Early Access Season”. Here, too, it is just the usual founder packages that cost the same as on the Fortnite homepage. In the PS Store, they can be found under “Addons”.
Early Access packages at Amazon, Media Markt, and others
- At Amazon and computer specialty stores like Media Markt and others, there are Early Access packages as boxes. These cost 39.00 euros for PC and Xbox One, but 59.00 euros for PS4. However, the content is the same across all platforms and corresponds to a “Deluxe Founder Pack,” which also costs 59.00 euros on the Fortnite homepage. Therefore, PC and Xbox players get them cheaper.
- That it is an Early Access version or package can be found out from dealers and in the PS Store only in the product description behind strange marketing jargon. There are no indications that the game is still in development or will be available as a free-to-play title in 2018.
Free PvP? Is the Battle Royale mode really free2play?
An exception to Fortnite’s usual payment policy is the PvP mode Battle Royale. Those who just want to slaughter other players can do so for free. The regular Fortnite version is not needed for the PvP mode.
Is Fortnite worth it despite the high prices? Read about it in our preview test of Fortnite!
