The basic cost of a Fortnite Battle Pass is increasing for the first time in the game’s history.
Since the Fortnite Battle Pass was introduced in 2017, it has cost 950 V-Bucks. From December 1, the fee will rise to 1000 V-Bucks.
A 1000 V-Bucks gift card currently costs £6.99. While no benefit of the doubt is due to a game that has made tens of billions of pounds in revenue since its release in 2017, the jump is equivalent to around 35p, and brings the cost of the Battle Pass in line with that of a standard gift card denomination.
Epic Games says the cost of V-Bucks will not change and, to offset the cost rise, another Battle Pass bundle is getting a price drop.
The cost of the 25 Battle Pass Reward Bundle will drop from 1850 V-Bucks to 1800.
These changes come into effect alongside the launch of Fortnite chapter six season one, on December 1.
Ice Spice’s lair on Ice Isle (née Shark Island).
Epic Games
What’s coming in Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 1?
The most interesting news around this coming era of Fortnite is not about the main game itself, though. A recreation of the original Fortnite map and play style, dubbed OG, is to come to the game a week after the launch of the new Chapter, on December 6.
This original map already returned to the game as part of Chapter 4: Season OG in November 2023.
Fortnite OG will have its own Battle Pass, yet another way for Epic Games to make use of the multiplayer leviathan while it can.
This Battle Pass joins the Lego Pass and Music pass, each 1400 V-Bucks, although pricing for the new OG pass is yet to be announced.
It further improves the perceived value of the Fortnite Crew subscription, which costs £9.99 a month and includes all the key passes and 1000 V-Bucks.
The current season of Fortnite is a throwback to the Chapter 2 content of the game, originally seen in 2020. It also features a series of hip-hop icons including Snoop Dogg and Eminem.