Epic's 'Support a creator' program pays out only 5% of game content makers' sales

Posted:
in General Discussion
At the same time it rails against Apple's payments through the App Store, Epic reaps 95% of the earnings of people participating in the new "Support a Creator" program.




Fortnite has been a rousing success for Epic Games, with the company benefiting from virtual currency purchases by players as well as from groups producing content specifically for the game. However, those groups of independent developers working on content certainly aren't earning high amounts from in-game purchases.

In a profile of the rising numbers of creators making content for Fortnite, The Verge reports that small companies are being created specifically for the third-party efforts. However, those teams have to rely on working with brands to earn any significant revenue, as opposed to enjoying Epic-derived funds.

Covering discussions with companies like Beyond Creative who have worked with companies such as Verizon and Nvidia, the projects can end up requiring a lot of work. According to Alliance Studios co-owner Simon Bell, a project with a brand can last anywhere between two weeks and six months, depending on the workload.

These deals are also lucrative, with Bell confirming contracts can be between "four to six figures" in size. In return, the brands have a map and content that players can experience.

An Epic pittance

While the projects are generally successful, with roughly half the playtime of Fortnite users spent in the custom maps instead of the main game, the developers aren't counting on earning much from the game directly.

Epic operates a Support-A-Creator program, which hands participants a Creator Code that players can enter into the game. Purchases made while a code is active on an account gives a small credit to the owner of that code.

The problem is that the amount that the creators receive can be quite low. It is so low, that in a FAQ about the program asking if creators could get rich from it, Epic warns "Please expect modest results."

The Support-A-Creator program is open to anyone with over 1,000 followers on a social media program, are aged 13 years or older, can accept the agreement, can abide by Creator Content Guidelines, and can take payment from the company's designated payments platform.

In exchange for agreeing to the terms, creators stand to earn a very low amount in return. In effect, creators can expect to earn $5 per $100 of in-game purchases by supporters using that creator's code.

Furthermore, creators have to earn at least $100 in a 12-month period to be eligible for a payment. If that $100 barrier isn't reached, "any attributed purchases and/or redemptions made by followers during that 12-month period will reset to zero."

The amount that creators stand to earn from Epic is extremely low compared to other storefronts. For Apple's App Store, it takes a 30% commission from purchases, 15% under certain circumstances, leaving developers with the lion's share of the transaction's value.

In April, Apple attacked Meta over a plan to charge developers up to 47.5% for virtual goods sold through the Meta Quest store, combining a 17.5% cut with a 30% platform fee.

Rival metaverse-style platform Roblox was also under fire in August 2021 for providing developers with a small cut of sales from its in-game sales. However, even that commission provided creators with around 35% of the full Robux value.

Epic's astoundingly low payment rate to creators is ironic, given that one of the reasons behind Epic Games' decision to withdraw Fortnite from the App Store and prompting a major legal fight was Apple's 30% commission, and Epic's intention to avoid paying it.

Fortnite's stinginess isn't just limited to creators of content. Epic Games has become the targets of criticism and lawsuits for allegedly stealing dance moves, which are then used as emotes in the game.

The financial difficulty of earning from Fortnite has pushed creators into working with brands to earn significant revenue, but they also wish there were more monetization options. For example, creating virtual items for sale in the digital storefront.

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney also hinted in April that Epic could offer more monetization options in the future. Sweeney commented that Epic was working on "Fortnite creator economy version 2 and 3" and to expect "big changes throughout the year."

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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 44
    cpsrocpsro Posts: 3,226member
    Your Honor, the defense asks that this be entered into evidence as Exhibit A.
    BeatsnarwhallolliverbloggerblogFileMakerFellerrob53magman1979viclauyycequality72521jony0
  • Reply 2 of 44
    sflocalsflocal Posts: 6,123member
    If Epic or anyone else wants to complain about Apple's 30% cut policy on using Apple's proprietary platform, fine.

    But when Epic turns around (quietly) and takes a 95% cut of developer's revenue for using Epic's proprietary platform then f**k Epic and it's blatant hypocrisy.

    I hope Apple gets this added into a court exhibit down the road.
    genovellewilliamlondonBeatsnarwhallolliverbloggerblogFileMakerFellerrob53magman1979Madbum
  • Reply 3 of 44
    StrangeDaysStrangeDays Posts: 13,055member
    So they take 95% from their platform, but sued Apple for taking the 15/30% from its platform. Hmmm
    edited June 2022 williamlondonnarwhallolliverbloggerblogFileMakerFellermagman1979equality72521jony0watto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 44
    DAalsethDAalseth Posts: 2,972member
    Now, now people. Let’s not let a bit of blatant hypocrisy taint our view of Epic fighting the good fight… /s
    williamlondonBeatslolliverbloggerblogFileMakerFellermagman1979equality72521JaiOh81jony0watto_cobra
  • Reply 5 of 44
    genovellegenovelle Posts: 1,481member
    sflocal said:
    If Epic or anyone else wants to complain about Apple's 30% cut policy on using Apple's proprietary platform, fine.

    But when Epic turns around (quietly) and takes a 95% cut of developer's revenue for using Epic's proprietary platform then f**k Epic and it's blatant hypocrisy.

    I hope Apple gets this added into a court exhibit down the road.
    Exactly!
    williamlondonwatto_cobra
  • Reply 6 of 44
    JapheyJaphey Posts: 1,772member
    Epic. Friend and protector of the little guy. 
    edited June 2022 BeatsFileMakerFellerequality72521rezwitsjony0watto_cobra
  • Reply 7 of 44
    So they take 95% from their platform, but sued Apple for taking the 15/30% from its platform. Hmmm
    You're comparing Apples to Oranges... Epic is giving someone money for referring them, an affiliate program if you will.  This is in line with other such programs like the Amazon one.
    crowleyIreneW
  • Reply 8 of 44
    So they take 95% from their platform, but sued Apple for taking the 15/30% from its platform. Hmmm
    They give affiliates a cut of their sales, this percentage is in line with thins like the Amazon affiliate links and other such programs.

    It's the same thing with the iTunes affiliate program... they pay you to bring users to them.
    edited June 2022 Pyronuke
  • Reply 9 of 44
    Mike WuertheleMike Wuerthele Posts: 6,919administrator
    So they take 95% from their platform, but sued Apple for taking the 15/30% from its platform. Hmmm
    They give affiliates a cut of their sales, this percentage is in line with thins like the Amazon affiliate links and other such programs.

    It's the same thing with the iTunes affiliate program... they pay you to bring users to them.
    That's not what this is.

    Say you've made a skin for Fortnite. You then put it up for sale, since you're one of Epic's blessed. If Epic sells your skin for $10, you get $0.50. If Jim says that "Hey, look at this cool skin on Fortnite" and somehow links it to you, he gets nothing, and since it's your skin, you get $0.50.

    If it was like the iTunes affiliate program (which cut apps out about three years ago), Jim that did the referral would get probably $0.02 and you'd get the $0.50 since its your skin.
    BeatsbloggerblogstompyFileMakerFellermagman1979viclauyycequality72521pichaelqwerty52rezwits
  • Reply 10 of 44
    BeatsBeats Posts: 3,073member
    To the 1% morons and app developers who defended Epic saying “they would never” and how Apple was greedy and should have rights to the platform they invented:

    HOW DOES THIS NEWS TASTE? Still fig he ing side by side with Epic?


    If Epic screws the littlest of guys (creators with 1000 followers) why wouldn’t they screw the “little guys” who are developers?
    magman1979viclauyycequality72521qwerty52jony0lolliverwatto_cobra
  • Reply 11 of 44
    BeatsBeats Posts: 3,073member
    So they take 95% from their platform, but sued Apple for taking the 15/30% from its platform. Hmmm
    You're comparing Apples to Oranges... Epic is giving someone money for referring them, an affiliate program if you will.  This is in line with other such programs like the Amazon one.

    No. This is the amount content creators get.  Also the fine print says they have to make over $100 in 12 months to cash out. Think of all the money they’ll steal from those making less than $100 a year!! So basically the more little the guy, the harder he gets fu**ed!!

    Epic really fighting for the little guy here!
    bloggerblogFileMakerFellermagman1979equality72521qwerty52StrangeDaysjony0lolliverwatto_cobra
  • Reply 12 of 44
    genovellegenovelle Posts: 1,481member
    Got to love how quiet this post is. It’s not bashing Apple so it has 11 post after 6 hours. 😂 
    equality72521qwerty52RudeBoyRudyStrangeDaysjony0watto_cobra
  • Reply 13 of 44
    BeatsBeats Posts: 3,073member
    genovelle said:
    Got to love how quiet this post is. It’s not bashing Apple so it has 11 post after 6 hours. 😂 
    Believe it or not there were a few posters here defending Epic claiming they had a right to Apple’s property and the usual “Apple is greedy” rhetoric.

    THEY are the quiet ones now.
    magman1979qwerty52JaiOh81jony0lolliverwatto_cobra
  • Reply 14 of 44
    hammeroftruthhammeroftruth Posts: 1,348member
    genovelle said:
    Got to love how quiet this post is. It’s not bashing Apple so it has 11 post after 6 hours. ߘ⦡mp;nbsp;
    Probably because we’re not surprised. 
    We knew Saweenie was a hypocrite. 
    edited June 2022 magman1979Beatsjony0lolliverwatto_cobra
  • Reply 15 of 44
    JinTechJinTech Posts: 1,053member
    I'm sure if Mac Rumors had an article about this, we would see some interesting discussions in their forums but, they haven't posted anything yet...
    Beatswilliamlondonjony0watto_cobra
  • Reply 16 of 44
    MadbumMadbum Posts: 536member
    Oh gee, why not pay just take 99 percent?

    fuck Epic, stupid 49 percent owned Chinese communist company 
    edited June 2022 Beatswatto_cobra
  • Reply 17 of 44
    sflocalsflocal Posts: 6,123member
    Beats said:
    genovelle said:
    Got to love how quiet this post is. It’s not bashing Apple so it has 11 post after 6 hours. 😂 
    Believe it or not there were a few posters here defending Epic claiming they had a right to Apple’s property and the usual “Apple is greedy” rhetoric.

    THEY are the quiet ones now.
    Not to worry... @darkvader and @OutdoorAppDeveloper will come out soon to say this is not the same thing.
    BeatsrezwitsStrangeDayswilliamlondonjony0lolliverwatto_cobra
  • Reply 18 of 44
    So they take 95% from their platform, but sued Apple for taking the 15/30% from its platform. Hmmm
    They give affiliates a cut of their sales, this percentage is in line with thins like the Amazon affiliate links and other such programs.

    It's the same thing with the iTunes affiliate program... they pay you to bring users to them.
    That's not what this is.

    Say you've made a skin for Fortnite. You then put it up for sale, since you're one of Epic's blessed. If Epic sells your skin for $10, you get $0.50. If Jim says that "Hey, look at this cool skin on Fortnite" and somehow links it to you, he gets nothing, and since it's your skin, you get $0.50.

    If it was like the iTunes affiliate program (which cut apps out about three years ago), Jim that did the referral would get probably $0.02 and you'd get the $0.50 since its your skin.
    Except you can't create skins for Fortnite or any cosemetics.
    edited June 2022 williamlondon
  • Reply 19 of 44
    The point of Support-A-Creator is that it says 'Creator' like an influencer. Epic didn't have to add it. It just helps creators profit (of Epic cosmetics) and make extra money from the game. Other games have the same type of creator supporter like Brawl stars and Roblox. The sole purpose is to give back to the community of content creators who play fortnite and it is NOTHING like the App store Which is a marketplace that Support-A-Creator clearly is not.
    williamlondon
  • Reply 20 of 44
    sflocal said:
    If Epic or anyone else wants to complain about Apple's 30% cut policy on using Apple's proprietary platform, fine.

    But when Epic turns around (quietly) and takes a 95% cut of developer's revenue for using Epic's proprietary platform then f**k Epic and it's blatant hypocrisy.

    I hope Apple  this added into a court exhibit down the road.

    Support-A-creator is for the people who make content for the game (Fortnite) it's not like Epic game store (which takes 12%). Support A Creator gives people 5% of Epic's profit from Fortnite. (5% of the Money gained from cosmetics in the in-game store)
    edited June 2022 williamlondon
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