Epic Introduces Changes to Fortnite's Engagement Payout Metrics

Epic has introduced changes to the way it calculates engagement payouts for developers within Fortnite's creator ecosystem. The company has added a 'time played' metric, which aims to reward creators based on the time players spend in their islands. While popularity and retention remain factors, Epic has reduced their weighting in engagement payouts and increased the importance of 'time played'. The company expects to rebalance these metrics over time as new features are introduced. Epic has also shared insights into its first payouts since introducing Creator Economy 2.0, noting a significant increase in the March engagement payout compared to previous earnings. The new formula is expected to result in a 1.45x increase in total money paid to creators in April. According to Epic, five creators could potentially earn over $10 million annually based on the April payouts. The updated payout structure is part of Epic's broader vision for the metaverse, which it believes is becoming a reality.