Since its release in 2017, Fortnite has become a social media phenomenon. The online game was created by Epic Games and it has always been changing and providing the players with new ways to play and socialize within the Fortnite ecosystem. Two of the most important updates of Fortnite are Fortnite Creative and Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN). These tools have turned Fortnite into more than a game and a stage for self-expression, and possibly monetization. Let’s explore the history of Fortnite Creative and UEFN, and highlight five trends that suggest why they are poised to become the next big creative moneymakers.

I sat down with the team at NEIGHBOR - a unique UGC game-studio based out of Tokyo, Japan that is focused solely on creating unique games and experiences within UEFN. Founded in 2022, the studio has released dozens of games within Fortnite and has quickly expanded to become a true metaverse company. With employees on three different continents, they work together remotely despite language barriers to create memorable games for a global audience. From making cute games with their own original characters to creating immersive brand experiences, NEIGHBOR has tackled it all and has no plans to slow down anytime soon.

Disclaimer: Author is currently the Head of Brand for NEIGHBOR.

A Brief History of Fortnite Creative and UEFN

Fortnite Creative

Fortnite Creative was released in December 2018, which is the island generation mode that gives players the flexibility of creating their own games, challenges, and experiences that can be shared with the community. Fortnite Creative introduced a new approach that focused more on capturing content made by players and their creativity.

“Fortnite is consistently evolving and expanding its presence in the metaverse and has a proven track record of being able to adapt to industry and consumer changes,” suggests Grace Lind, Head of Business Development for NEIGHBOR.

Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN)

On March 19, 2023, Epic Games expanded upon Fortnite Creative with the release of Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN), more commonly referred to by the community as Creative 2.0. UEFN combines the utility of Unreal Editor, the game editor created and used by Epic Games, with Fortnite Creative. With this integration, creators are able to build more intricate and visually appealing creations utilizing the tools and capabilities of Unreal Editor within Fortnite. UEFN gives more authority and freedom to creators so that they can work without restrictions and create whatever they desire in high quality. “The innovative aspect of Fortnite is that it allows individuals to develop high-quality online 3D games without incurring significant costs and enables them to generate substantial personal revenue.

NEIGHBOR is one of the companies that quickly jumped into this industry. Unlike other creators, NEIGHBOR isn't focused on short-term profits. Instead, they consider Fortnite, with its approximately 100 million users, as a marketing tool for their own IP. Their long-term goal is to create characters like Pokémon and SONIC and build a successful IP business,” offers Notef, CEO at NEIGHBOR.

Five Trends to Watch Out For

1. Rise of User-Generated Content (UGC)

UGC has always been present in gaming, yet with Fortnite Creative and the outlined UEFN, the possibilities are taken to a whole new level. Players can now build impressive environments, rich storylines, and exciting game mechanics that are very close to what professional game makers can offer. This democratization of game development implies that virtually anyone who has a design idea can create a successful game within Fortnite. The extent to which UGC is feasible is apparent through custom maps, game modes, and experiences that garner millions of followers. With these tools in place, the quality, and variety of UGC remain high, bringing more players and retaining community interest.

2. Monetization Opportunities for Creators

Creators are valuable for Epic Games and they created a bunch of ways to monetize it and share the revenue. This means that, by joining the Support-A-Creator program, creators receive real money when players make in-game purchases using their special code. Furthermore, in recent years, Epic has launched the Creator Economy 2.0, which enables creators to receive a percentage of earnings derived from users’ creations. In using UEFN, creators still have more ways on how they can generate revenues since they can now sell premium experiences and features. This shift towards a creator-centric economy is a massive trend that will encourage more people to dedicate time and resources and into producing high-quality content.

3. Integration of Advanced Technologies

Using Fortnite Creative, the integration of Unreal Engine offers a great potential for creators. Several new solutions, including realistic ray tracing, realistic physics, and high-fidelity graphics, can be tested in distinctly crafted expansion packs. Such depth has been available to professional game developers only, but now, UEFN makes these tools available to the general public. Therefore, the quality of custom experiences will sky-high since more players will be interested in engaging with a one-of-a-kind game with absolutely fantastic graphics. This trend will not only improve the quality of the player experience but also positively influence the perception of UGC in Fortnite.

“I think Fortnite UEFN is a fantastic tool for brands to create games within Fortnite. By using the advanced features and tools within UEFN, it makes it easier to build unique game experiences, with the possibility of including their own brand and IP. Working with NEIGHBOR as their Community Manager has been a very exciting experience! My role is to ensure that the games NEIGHBOR produce are play tested and flawless, before they are published and enjoyed by players on Fortnite. From there, I gather player feedback and handle promotion via hosting events for NEIGHBOR and managing streamers to ensure their games can be enjoyed by everyone,” says Tom Cornish, a Fortnite streamer and Community Manager for NEIGHBOR.

4. Expansion of Esports and Competitive Play

Since the beginning, Fortnite has also been deeply associated with the esports scene with large prizes and competitive environment. However, with the addition of Fortnite Creative and UEFN, new opportunities for competitive expansions are on the horizon. It allows creators to build new maps and modes which can be more suitable for competitive play than anything which can be formed by the imagination on the regular basis. Such expansion will facilitate the creation of new esports events based on UGC, thus generating extra revenue for creators as well as attracting the general public to the esports events. The esports trend based on UGC will contribute to a greater level of differentiation and decentralisation in competitiveness.

5. Community Collaboration and Social Interaction

The aspect of togetherness is also well captured by Fortnite Creative and UEFN since they unite people within the metaverse. These tools are social, thus, they make players engage in teamwork to accomplish complex goals and, thus, create togetherness. The ability to build structures, play in them and share with friends is an important factor of social interaction in Fortnite and the creative modes develop this aspect. The general tendency towards the development of more elaborate and interactive community events will result in even more captivating scenarios and the further solidarity within the Fortnite community. This social component will help engage players in the game and the creative process around it.

UEFN and Fortnite Creative are revolutionizing the gaming industry by giving players the ability to create. These are the opportunities for user-generated content, monetization, technological advancements, esports, and community engagement, which suggest that the potential of these tools is almost limitless. Fortnite is constantly growing and with the added possibilities for creatives as the game progresses, more and more people will join in as creators and players. Epic Games has come up with a platform that not only provides games for entertainment but also comes up with ideas, and thus, Fortnite Creative and UEFN are the next big creative producers of money in the gaming industry.