Epic Games is set to make significant changes to the way its Fortnite Battle Pass exclusives work, aiming to offer players more opportunities to snag their favorite items. Gone are the days of previously exclusive skins and emotes being locked away forever once the Battle Pass expires. Starting from future seasons, players might be able to see select Battle Pass items resurface for purchase within the Fortnite Shop, but there’s a catch: you’ll need to wait at least 18 months after the Battle Pass expires.
This strategic shift follows suit with Blizzard’s recent decision to allow Overwatch 2 players access to past exclusive Mythic skins via the shop after a waiting period. Epic has indicated this change is primarily to allow more players to access popular licensed character outfits after their corresponding battle passes have run their course.
According to Epic, "This change lets us continue investing in new and exciting Battle Pass rewards, enabling players down the road to also enjoy the content, including Outfits based on popular licensed characters." This means if you’ve been clamoring for characters like Spider-Man, Darth Vader, or Geralt from The Witcher, there’s hope you might be able to get them after some time has passed.
Before this, items from Fortnite's Battle Pass were strictly limited to those who played during the current season, leading many players to miss out on popular skins and emotes. This exclusivity often left fans disappointed, especially during seasons featuring significant collaborations. With the new policy, Epic has opened the door for players who may not always have the time or means to grind their way through the Battle Pass to access at least some of these coveted items.
While it’s certainly good news for many Fortnite fans, not every item will automatically make it to the shop after the minimum waiting period, and there’s no exact timeline for how this change will roll out. The developer has been clear, stating: "If an item has never been and will never be available outside the Pass, we’ll let you know!" A bevy of skins, emotes, and back blings could still remain firmly locked behind their respective battle passes even after this change.
There might also be variations to the items offered when they do appear for purchase; plans include possibly including different styles or versions of the originally awarded items. Epic has also mentioned, "The number of alt styles included with any Battle Pass item may vary each time it enters the Shop." This means if there were multiple designs for skins or emotes, players may not get every available option when they finally do go on sale.
When it does come to pricing, Epic has confirmed there would be no adjustments to the Battle Pass cost, which will still be set at 950 V-Bucks. Players still have the chance to earn back some V-Bucks by progressing through the pass, enabling them to purchase items without incurring significant additional costs.
The new approach provides room for optimism among players who’ve struggled to obtain items from previous Battle Passes, and many are welcoming the news with open arms. Yet, as with many things, feedback has been mixed. Some fans feel this is merely scratching the surface of what could be done. Many have urged Epic to extend this policy to previous Battle Passes, arguing it only makes sense to access long-lost items from past seasons. "Should've been ALL Battle Passes, not just future ones," one Reddit user commented. Another added, "It’s ignoring the people who want the old Battle Pass content. This is great for the future, but old content is still locked, which is not what anyone was proposing."
It seems there’s still quite the demand for Epic to rethink the exclusivity of its cosmetics altogether, allowing players to purchase what they want when they want. Not all hope is lost, as there was reportedly a recent mishap where old exclusive items briefly became available for purchase, only to be pulled quickly. Perhaps, if flexibility continues to be on the table, we’ll see even more scope for player experience enhancement down the line.
It's not just cosmetic changes at play either; Battle Passes remain critical for Fortnite’s revenue model, providing steady income streams for continued development and innovation. The current Battle Pass has adopted elements from post-apocalyptic franchises like Mad Max and the Fallout series, showcasing Epic's continual commitment to fresh themes and collaborations within the game.
With these new adjustments set to impact the player experience significantly, many are watching closely to see if Epic Games will eventually heed the calls for broader changes. The anticipation of nostalgic characters and exclusive skins coming back after months is intriguing; after all, players invest time and money to enjoy their favorite game. Will Epic expand the opportunity for all players to enjoy the full range of content the game offers? Only time will tell. Yet, as for now, fans can look forward to future Battle Passes coming with this new promise of item availability down the road.