Epic Games has now paid over $1 billion to the creators of Fortnite’s “Islands”

Three years after Epic Games launched the Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN), creator payouts associated with the product have reached ten-digit territory. At the Unreal Fest in Chicago, Epic Games Director of Fortnite Developer Relations Hannah Lowry revealed that UEFN creators have earned $1 billion since 2023.

Since launching UEFN, Epic Games has positioned the product as a viable alternative to Roblox and its empire of creator-built experiences. UEFN users can seamlessly upload their creations as Fortnite “Islands,” which are then inhabited by millions of players.

“For those of you who have been with us in UEFN, some since day one: thank you,” Lowry said. “Your feedback has really helped shape the tools, and your creativity has shifted how more than 75 million monthly active users experience Fortnite.”

By handing over 40% of Island revenue to developers, Epic Games built a strong base of Fortnite creators. Within a year of UEFN’s launch, payouts associated with it reached $320 million. Top earners from that program have deepened their ties to Fortnite by launching studios that develop custom Islands within the game. Typical Gamer, a popular member of the Fortnite YouTube community, has invested millions in Fortnite development through his studio JOGO.

As meteoric as UEFN’s rise has been, Roblox’s revenue has soared even higher. Payouts to creators who build Roblox experiences topped $1 billion in 2025 alone. Epic Games’ plan to close that gap involves in-game item sales, which have become a significant source of income for Island creators.

At Unreal Fest, Lowry shared a telling statistic: For about 3,000 Islands, in-game transactions generate more revenue than the preexisting UEFN payout model. “As of January, we’ve introduced more ways to monetize, opening up new genres and helping developers with smaller, engaged communities,” Lowry said.

It’s worth keeping in mind that a 1:1 comparison between Fortnite creator revenue and Roblox creator revenue is somewhat misleading. While the main Fortnite battle royale game still eats up a big chunk of the community’s play time, the vast majority of Roblox play time comes via creator experiences. Therefore, Epic Games’ archipelago of Islands is in a good place, even if layoffs are affecting Fortnite’s parent company.

More details about the UEFN program can be found via the Fortnite Creator Program homepage.