Epic denies gambling in Fortnite
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20 Nov 2025 •
Reading time: 3 minutes A recent leak has shaken the Fortnite community: according to sources, Epic Games is preparing to integrate gambling-type systems into player-created content. This rumour has caused a great deal of concern, particularly among parents and regulators. Epic Games has reacted firmly to the controversy.
When a leak reawakens an old controversy
The story begins with a leak, relayed by insiders such as ShiinaBR, claiming that a future Fortnite update via the Unreal Editor (UEFN) would allow island creators to offer paid random items purchased with V-Bucks, the game’s virtual currency that can be acquired by spending real money. These items, according to the leak, would be based on probabilities, with no guarantee of reward, which is very reminiscent of the loot box mechanism.
The situation has sent shockwaves. Some fear that Fortnite could reproduce the same controversial practices as other games, where random micro-transactions have been likened to gambling.
Epic Games: a clear (but not total) denial
Epic Games was quick to clarify its position. In a statement to TheGamer, the publisher said that gambling games will not be coming to Fortnite, and that island creators are not allowed to include casino mechanisms or random draw systems akin to betting.
However, Epic has not completely ruled out the possibility of monetisation via chance. The company explains that these are ‘paid random mechanics’, not gambling: creators can include these mechanisms as long as they comply with precise rules, in particular the obligation to clearly indicate which objects are random and to disclose the probabilities before any purchase.
This distinction, according to Epic, is crucial: the term gambling would imply stricter regulation under gaming laws, while random mechanisms – provided they are transparent – would fall under a more flexible zone.
The balance between transparency and risk
Despite Epic’s warning, the community and regulatory observers point out that this distinction may seem purely semantic. In their eyes, any paid transaction involving randomness is akin to gambling, especially when it uses currency purchased in real life.
Furthermore, Epic itself acknowledges geographical restrictions. Certain regions, such as Belgium, Australia, the Netherlands and Singapore, would be excluded from this feature, due to their local legislation on loot boxes and paid random rewards.
The controversy surrounding loot boxes is nothing new. For many years, this mechanism has been at the heart of debates on the regulation of video games. Some countries have already passed laws to regulate or even ban this type of transaction. What’s more, studies have highlighted the negative effects on young gamers, both emotionally and financially.
The controversy surrounding gambling in Fortnite highlights a central dilemma for the games industry: how do you monetise creativity while protecting players and avoiding abuses? Epic Games is trying to navigate this fine line. It remains to be seen how these promises will be kept – and whether the community, families and authorities will see any real difference.