Epic Games has good and bad news for Fortnite Fans: Battle Pass-exclusive skins and select items that appear in future Battle Passes may also be sold through the in-game shop at some point, the company said. That will go a long way toward alleviating the fear of missing out that comes with Battle Pass exclusives, but it will also diminish the cachet of scoring those limited-time items.
In a post on the official Fortnite blogEpic says that items in future Battle Passes “may be made available for purchase in the Fortnite Shop 18 or more months after the Battle Pass expiration date.” While a minimum of 18 months is a long time for Battle Pass exclusivity, and Epic makes no guarantee that all Battle Pass exclusives will be sold a la carte later, it will be welcome news for Fortnite fans who are missing out on a coveted “exclusive” film in the coming years.
The change in Battle Pass exclusivity, Epic says, will allow the developer to “continue to invest in new and exciting Battle Pass rewards, while also allowing players to enjoy future content, including outfits based on popular licensed characters.” It’s also a way for Epic to earn more revenue from skins outside of the Battle Pass, which costs 950 V-Bucks, or $8.49.
Epic’s stance on Battle Pass exclusives does not appear to apply to previous Battle Passes and their exclusive skins – sorry if you missed that Darth Vader or Raven skin. Reached for comment, an Epic spokesperson said the company had nothing further to share about its Battle Pass plans beyond what was announced in its blog post.
Maybe there’s hope for some older seasonal exclusives. On Tuesday, Epic re-released a Fortnite 2019 Season X skin — The Paradigm — via the in-game store, an addition described as a “unintended return to the store.”