Everything You Need to Know about Creating Content in Fortnite Creative

Fortnite, a game with over 100 million monthly active users, has evolved far beyond its Battle Royale roots. It now boasts a vibrant creator ecosystem where user-generated content (UGC) thrives. Fortnite Creative has many intricacies and a recent talk by Epic Games’ Kent Rollins and Claudia Page at GDC 2024 sheds light on many of them. Using this talk as a point of reference, let’s explore the creation, publication, and promotion of Fortnite islands, the tools available for creators, the platform’s future directions and how we, at Polydin Game art Studio, might be able to help you create content for the platform.

Why Create in Fortnite?

The Fortnite platform offers unparalleled scale and reach. With over 100 million monthly active users, two-thirds of whom engage with creator-made content weekly, the platform presents immense opportunities. On a typical Saturday, Fortnite  Creative and Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) saw over 1.5 million concurrent users. This massive user base is complemented by seamless cross-platform publishing and access to Epic’s suite of tools like Fab, Twinmotion, and MetaHuman, making Fortnite an ideal space for creators.

Creating in Fortnite isn’t just about scale; it’s also about the potential for innovation and creativity. The UEFN toolset allows for cross-platform compatibility, meaning that once a creator publishes their content, it is instantly available across all platforms where Fortnite is played. This seamless integration ensures that creators can reach a broad audience without the hassle of platform-specific adjustments. Additionally, the toolset includes powerful features that enable creators to build intricate and engaging experiences. The integration with Epic’s other tools, such as Fab, Twinmotion, and MetaHuman, further expands the creative possibilities, allowing creators to leverage high-quality assets and sophisticated animation tools.

(For the uninitiated, Fab is a comprehensive asset marketplace for 3D creators, Twinmotion is a real-time 3D visualization tool for creating interactive architectural and urban projects, and MetaHuman is a platform for creating highly realistic digital human characters.)

Publishing Your First Island

 

Publishing in Fortnite Creative involves three key phases: creating, publishing, and promoting your game, followed by earning through engagement payouts. To begin, creators must apply to the Island Creator and Engagement Program. This program ensures that all islands participate in the engagement payout economy, providing financial incentives for creators. The Creator Portal serves as the hub for publishing islands, offering tools for metadata management, tagging, and more. Additionally, the platform now supports building LEGO Islands, further expanding creative possibilities.

Key Steps to Publishing Your Island

1. Application Process: The first step to publishing in Fortnite is to apply to the Island Creator and Engagement Program. This involves building at least one island experience and signing up with an Epic account that is at least 30 days old. The application process ensures that all islands participate in the engagement payout economy.
2. Creator Portal: The Creator Portal is the central hub for all publishing activities. It provides tools for creators to prepare and submit their islands, including filling out metadata, game titles, descriptions, and thumbnails. Creators can also apply tags to improve discoverability and provide a more detailed understanding of their game to potential players.
3. LEGO Integration: Creators can sign additional terms and conditions to build LEGO Islands using LEGO brand templates, props, consumables, and more. This integration allows for even greater creative possibilities and helps to attract a broader audience.
4. Continuous Improvement: Once an island is published, creators are encouraged to continually iterate and improve their game. This includes updating thumbnails, descriptions, and other metadata to reflect changes and improvements. The Creator Portal also allows for routine playtesting and submission of updates. The great thing is that you can still earn money from your island as you are improving it.
5. Content Review: After submitting an island for publication, it undergoes a content review to ensure compliance with Epic’s rules and the submitted IARC rating. For Unreal Engine developers, this review process can take up to a day but can be as fast as a couple of hours.

Improving Discoverability and Engagement

 

Discoverability is crucial in Fortnite Creative. Rollins and Page emphasize the importance of innovation, urging creators to leverage new features, Verse commands, and creative devices. Innovative content stands a higher chance of being featured in the “new content testing loop,” which provides significant exposure. Regular updates to thumbnails, titles, and descriptions can also enhance discoverability. For more effective promotion, Epic Games is developing tools for in-game and in-platform promotion, along with robust analytics to track island performance.

Strategies for Enhancing Discoverability

1. Innovative Content: To improve discoverability, it’s essential to create content that stands out. This involves leveraging new features, Verse commands, and creative devices that push the boundaries of what’s possible in Fortnite. For instance, integrating unique gameplay mechanics or combining popular game modes with new twists can attract more players and increase the chances of being featured in the new content testing loop.
2. Regular Updates: Keeping your content fresh and updated is crucial for maintaining player interest. Regularly updating thumbnails, titles, and descriptions to reflect changes and improvements can help improve your island’s visibility in the Discover tab. These updates not only attract new players but also re-engage existing ones.
3. Metadata and Tags: Properly filling out metadata and applying relevant tags can significantly improve your island’s discoverability. Tags help players understand what your game is about and make it easier for them to find your content when searching for specific genres or themes.
4. Promotion Tools: Epic Games is developing new tools for in-game and in-platform promotion. These tools will allow creators to promote their islands more effectively, both within Fortnite and on external platforms. Additionally, the upcoming monetization analytics will provide deeper insights into island engagement, helping creators optimize their promotional strategies.

Attracting and Retaining Players

 

Attracting players involves understanding Fortnite’s algorithm-driven Discover surface, where 99% of content placement is algorithmic. The Discover system evaluates various factors, including user engagement, innovation, and search popularity, to determine content placement. Epic Games continuously updates its algorithms to better recognize and reward high-quality, engaging content. Additionally, personalized Discover recommendations aim to reflect individual player tastes, fostering a more engaging and tailored user experience.

Key Aspects of Attracting Players

 

1. Algorithmic Discover Surface: The Discover surface in Fortnite is predominantly algorithm-driven, meaning that content placement is determined by various factors such as user engagement, innovation, and search popularity. Understanding how these factors influence discoverability can help creators optimize their content for better placement.
2. Personalized Recommendations: Personalized Discover recommendations are designed to reflect individual player tastes. By analyzing player behavior and preferences, Fortnite can recommend content that is more likely to be engaging and enjoyable for each user. This personalization helps attract players who are more likely to enjoy and stick with your content.
3. Innovative and High-Quality Content: The Discover system is constantly updated to better recognize and reward innovative and high-quality content. By focusing on creating engaging and unique experiences, creators can improve their chances of being featured and attracting more players.
4. Utilizing Off-Platform Promotion: Leveraging off-platform promotion strategies, such as social media campaigns and influencer collaborations, can help drive traffic to your Fortnite island. Platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Twitch offer vast audiences and can significantly boost your content’s visibility and engagement.

Follow-A-Creator Feature

The new Follow-A-Creator feature enables players to follow their favorite creators, enhancing community building and content promotion. This feature integrates with social media, allowing creators to link their profiles and direct followers to new or updated content. In-game notifications and personalized Discover rows will highlight content from followed creators, providing a more connected and dynamic player experience.

Benefits of the Follow-A-Creator Feature

1. Enhanced Community Building: The Follow-A-Creator feature allows players to follow their favorite creators, fostering a sense of community and connection. This feature helps creators build a loyal fanbase and keep their audience engaged with regular updates and new content.
2. Social Media Integration: By linking social media profiles to their Fortnite Creative page, creators can direct their followers to additional content and updates outside of the game. This integration allows for a more seamless connection between in-game and off-platform activities.
3. In-Game Notifications: In-game notifications will alert players to new or updated content from creators they follow. This feature ensures that followers are always aware of the latest updates and can quickly access new content.
4. Personalized Discover Rows: Content from followed creators will be highlighted in personalized Discover rows, making it easier for players to find and engage with their favorite creators’ content. This personalized approach enhances the overall player experience and helps retain engagement.

Earning Through Engagement Payouts

 

Since the launch of the engagement payout program, Epic Games has paid out over $320 million to creators. This program underscores the financial viability of creating in Fortnite. Creators are encouraged to apply to the Island Engagement Program, iterate on their content, and leverage social media and other promotional tools to maximize their earnings.

How to Maximize Earnings

1. Applying to the Island Engagement Program: Creators must apply to the Island Engagement Program to qualify for engagement payouts. This involves meeting specific criteria, such as building at least one island experience and having an Epic account that is at least 30 days old.
2. Iterating on Content: Continual improvement and iteration of content are crucial for maintaining player engagement and maximizing earnings. By regularly updating and refining their islands, creators can keep players interested and coming back for more.
3. Leveraging Social Media: Using social media platforms to promote content and engage with the community can significantly boost visibility and engagement. Creators can share updates, teasers, and behind-the-scenes content to keep their audience engaged and attract new players.
4. Utilizing Promotional Tools: Epic Games is developing new tools to help creators promote their content more effectively. These tools, combined with robust analytics, will enable creators to optimize their promotional strategies and maximize their earnings through engagement payouts.

Addressing Challenges in the Ecosystem

 

The talk addressed several challenges faced by creators, including the complexity of publishing and discoverability. Epic Games is actively working on solutions, such as improving rejection feedback, streamlining the resubmission process, and enhancing tools for off-platform promotion. The introduction of features like A/B testing for thumbnails and more detailed analytics will further support creators in optimizing their content.

Overcoming Common Challenges

1. Improving Rejection Feedback: One of the challenges creators face is the ambiguity of rejection reasons when their islands are not approved. Epic Games is working on providing more detailed and clear feedback, making it easier for creators to understand why their content was rejected and how to improve it for resubmission.
2. Streamlining the Resubmission Process: The current resubmission process can be complex and time-consuming. Epic Games is conducting user experience research to identify pain points and streamline the process, making it more straightforward and efficient for creators.
3. Enhancing Off-Platform Promotion: Recognizing the importance of off-platform promotion, Epic Games is developing tools to help creators leverage external platforms more effectively. This includes features for sharing content updates, promotional materials, and more, enabling creators to attract a wider audience.
4. A/B Testing for Thumbnails: Thumbnails play a crucial role in attracting players to an island. Epic Games is exploring the implementation of A/B testing for thumbnails, allowing creators to test different designs and choose the most effective one for attracting players. (A/B testing (also known as split testing or bucket testing) is a methodology for comparing two versions of a webpage or app against each other to determine which one performs better).
5. Detailed Analytics: Providing creators with more detailed analytics is a priority for Epic Games. By offering insights into player behavior, engagement metrics, and other key data points, creators can better understand their audience and optimize their content for improved performance.

Future Directions

Epic Games is committed to evolving the Fortnite ecosystem. Upcoming features include advanced analytics for island performance, improved monetization tools, and expanded personalization in Discover recommendations. Additionally, Epic plans to bring more sophisticated matchmaking options, allowing players to choose game modes (e.g., 1v1, 2v2) seamlessly.

Exciting Developments on the Horizon

1. Advanced Analytics: Epic Games is doubling down on analytics to provide creators with deeper insights into their island performance. This includes metrics on player engagement, retention, and monetization, helping creators make data-driven decisions to improve their content.
2. Improved Monetization Tools: New monetization tools are being developed to help creators maximize their earnings. These tools will offer more opportunities for creators to earn through engagement payouts, in-game purchases, and other revenue streams.
3. Expanded Personalization: Personalized Discover recommendations will continue to evolve, providing players with a more tailored and engaging experience. By analyzing player behavior and preferences, Fortnite will be able to recommend content that better matches individual tastes.
4. Sophisticated Matchmaking Options: Epic Games plans to introduce more sophisticated matchmaking options, allowing players to choose from various game modes, such as 1v1 or 2v2, seamlessly. This feature will enhance the player experience and make it easier for creators to offer diverse gameplay options.
5. Content Moderation and Quality Assurance: As the ecosystem grows, ensuring the quality and safety of user-generated content becomes increasingly important. Epic Games is investing in robust content moderation tools and processes to maintain high standards and protect the community.
6. Integration with Other Epic Tools: The integration of Fortnite with other Epic tools like Fab, Twinmotion, and MetaHuman will continue to expand. This integration will provide creators with even more resources and capabilities to build high-quality, engaging content.
7. Community Feedback and Iteration: Epic Games is committed to listening to the creator community and iterating on its features and tools based on feedback. This collaborative approach ensures that the platform evolves in ways that best support the needs and aspirations of its creators.

How Polydin Studios Can Help You Create Content in Fortnite Creative

 

Creating compelling content in Fortnite Creative can be a challenging yet rewarding endeavor.  We at Polydin Studios have extensive experience in game art outsourcing and game development and offer expert guidance and support to help bring your creative visions to life. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to enhance your existing projects, Polydin Studios can assist with everything from conceptualization to execution. Our team of skilled professionals is adept at utilizing Fortnite Creative mode and UEFN tools, ensuring your content stands out and engages the massive Fortnite audience effectively.

Beyond just technical expertise, we understands the importance of innovation and discoverability in the competitive landscape of Fortnite Creative. We offer tailored strategies to optimize your content for better visibility and player retention. By leveraging Our knowledge of the platform’s algorithms and promotional tools, Polydin Studios can help you maximize your content’s impact, ensuring it reaches and resonates with your target audience. Whether you need assistance with game mechanics, visual design, or promotional tactics, Polydin Studios is your partner in creating extraordinary Fortnite experiences.

Fortnite Creator Rules on Monetization

Engagement Payout Program

The Engagement Payout Program allows Fortnite creators to earn revenue based on player engagement with their content. Epic Games distributes payouts depending on the popularity and time spent in the creator’s maps or modes. This program incentivizes creators to develop high-quality and engaging experiences, directly linking success to player interaction.

Eligibility for Monetization

To qualify for monetization, creators must meet specific criteria set by Epic Games. These include being at least 18 years old, complying with the game’s community standards, and ensuring that all content aligns with Epic’s guidelines. This ensures that only responsible and dedicated creators are rewarded, maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for players.

Content Review and Compliance

Epic Games reviews creator content to ensure it adheres to the platform’s rules. This includes prohibiting inappropriate material, intellectual property violations, and exploitative mechanics. Non-compliant content is subject to removal, safeguarding the integrity of the platform and protecting players from harmful or offensive material.

Third-Party Monetization

Creators can also monetize through third-party avenues, such as sponsorships or affiliate partnerships. However, Epic Games mandates full transparency in these arrangements, ensuring that external monetization methods don’t negatively affect the player experience or violate ethical standards.

The Impact of Fortnite Creator Rules on Community Engagement

Fortnite’s monetization rules have a significant impact on its community. By tying earnings to player engagement, the platform encourages creators to develop diverse, high-quality content that caters to a wide audience. This fosters a collaborative environment where creators compete to innovate, resulting in more exciting experiences for players.

However, strict compliance and eligibility requirements can limit entry for smaller creators. While these rules maintain quality and safety, they may unintentionally discourage new talent from participating. Balancing inclusivity with high standards is a challenge Epic Games must navigate.

Ultimately, these rules strengthen the Fortnite community by promoting creativity, fairness, and transparency. They ensure that both creators and players benefit from a safe and engaging ecosystem.

Conclusion

Fortnite Creative offers vast opportunities for innovation and engagement. With robust tools, financial incentives, and a massive user base, creators can build and share unique experiences on a global scale. As Epic Games continues to enhance the platform, creators can look forward to more support, better tools, and increased visibility for their content. The future of Fortnite’s creator ecosystem is bright, promising exciting developments and opportunities for creators worldwide. By continually improving the tools and resources available to creators, Epic Games is fostering an environment where creativity and innovation can thrive.

In a strange twist of fate, in the same way Fortnite was heavily inspired by a highly creative indie game like the Minecraft, the “Minecraft” for the next generation can be built within the frameworks of Fortnite Creative. With how much emphasis Epic Games puts on promoting creative content, an optimist might say this is inevitable.