UPDATE: Fortnite has been dropped from both the App Store and the Google Play Store following the announcement of Epic Direct. Both Apple and Google say that it violates their store policies. In response, Epic has filed suit against Apple and Google.
Epic Games has permanently reduced the cost of Fortnite's V-Bucks by 20% across all platforms, but not without taking shots at Apple and Android for forcing the company to price gouge V-Bucks on mobile platforms. While the drop in price is available on all platforms, mobile users will need to do a little extra work to get the best possible price.
V-Bucks are Fortnite's form of in-game currency which players can earn a limited amount of for free. Players also have the option to purchase V-Bucks with real money. Before the price reduction, 100 V-Bucks would cost the player $1 USD. V-Bucks had to be purchase in bundles of 500, 1000, 2500, etc. Skins in-game cost anywhere from 800 to 2500 V-Bucks, so forcing players to purchase V-Bucks in bundles resulted in players having to purchase more currency than they actually needed.
In an Epic Games blog post, Fortnite announced that V-Bucks would permanently drop in price by 20%. Epic Games made it clear that these discounted prices were not a sale, but were a permanent drop in price across all platforms. However, they stated that mobile users would have to use a select method of payment to receive the discount due to Apple and Android's forced price gouging. Fortnite introduced the Epic Direct payment method for mobile users which allows players to pay Epic Games directly instead of paying through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Epic Games stated that the reason for the new payment method was due to Apple and Android's 30% cut when paying through their stores.
"Currently, when using Apple and Google payment options, Apple and Google collect a 30% fee, and the up to 20% price drop does not apply. If Apple or Google lower their fees on payments in the future, Epic will pass along the savings to you."
Multiple times throughout the blog post, Epic Games made the point that by not using the mobile device stores to pay for V-Bucks players would receive the 20% discount. They also stated that players who have purchased V-Bucks between July 14, 2020, and August 13, 2020, will receive a 20% reimbursement of the V-Bucks purchased. In celebration of the V-Bucks price reduction, players who log in to Fortnite will receive the free Shooting Starstaff Pickaxe.
The 20% reduction is great for players who spend V-Bucks regularly as they could potentially save a lot of money. But for those of us who have already dumped a ton of money into the game over the years, it feels a bit like salt in the wound. However, as Epic Games expands its reach in the world of gaming, it's nice to see price drops like these. Fortnite may not be as popular as it once was, but its decision to decrease its in-game currency price will be a popular one among the remaining community.
Source: Epic Games