Fortnite is set to make a controversial addition in a future update, it’s claimed, with gambling mechanics set to be directly added to the title.
Huge updates are on the cards for Fortnite with Chapter 7 due to kick off later this month, and the annual switch in chapters usually results in the biggest gameplay changes of the year.
While we’ve already seen leaks suggesting huge collabs with the likes of SpongeBob Squarepants and Harry Potter are on the cards, the apparent addition of gambling will ruffle some feathers.
Fortnite Will Add Gambling Mechanics
According to reliable leaker ShiinaBR, gambling mechanics are “coming soon” in Fortnite and will be available to games created using the Unreal Editor in Fortnite.
It’s not entirely clear whether official Fortnite experiences will support gambling, or whether content link loot boxes will be added to the Item Shop, but it appears that it will be available in community-created experiences.
According to leaks, random items will be purchasable with V-Bucks, but creators will be required to disclose gambling odds—something commonplace in gaming to align with international laws. Additionally, due to laws in some nations, experiences with gambling involved will be blocked in some nations.
While gambling aspects are already available in some user-created experiences within Fortnite, including pet eggs with a rare chance to hatch specific creatures in games like Pet Heroes Adventure, the major difference is that these are paid for with in-game soft currency that is not purchasable.
With this update, V-Bucks will be directly available to spend on items that provide random rewards, though it’s unclear at this stage what exactly that will entail, and it will likely depend on the experience being played.
Edit: Epic Games has reached out to Insider Gaming to deny the addition of gambling mechanics, though we disagree with their classification. Read the full story here.
What are your thoughts on the potential addition of gambling in Fortnite? Let us know your thoughts in the Insider Gaming Discord.
For more Fortnite, take a look at where to find bosses in The Simpsons mini-season, and check out suggestions the revive system will be altered in the next chapter.
