Epic Games wants creators to know that they can make real money through Unreal Editor for Fortnite — a billion dollars’ worth, specifically.
In 2023, Epic Games launched UEFN to enable game makers to more seamlessly publish their creations on the company’s user-generated content platform. Since then, Epic has paid out a total of over $1 billion to creators using UEFN, according to new figures shared by the company during the State of Unreal keynote presentation at Unreal Fest in Chicago today, June 17.
During the talk, Epic Games director of Fortnite developer relations Hannah Lowry credited the launch of in-game transactions in January 2026 for helping Epic cross the $1 billion creator payout threshold this year. At the moment, over 3,000 maps earn more through in-game transactions than through Fortnite’s engagement payout system.
“As of January, we’ve introduced more ways to monetize, opening up new genres and helping developers with smaller, engaged communities,” Lowry said during the onstage talk.
Creator-made experiences represent an increasingly significant chunk of overall Fortnite playtime. In May 2026, 47 percent of all player hours were spent inside creator-built islands, up from 35 percent in May 2025, according to numbers shared during Lowry’s part of the State of Unreal keynote. There has also been a boost in engagement and spending in game genres on Fortnite outside the usual suspects such as battle royale, with non-battle-royale games now accounting for over 75 percent of all in-game transactions.
“We know it takes trust to build on a platform that’s still maturing, and this year, stability and developer effectiveness is our number-one priority,” Lowry said.
The Epic Games creator community reacted to the news of the $1 billion total payout figure with excitement, with some creators rushing to social platforms to discuss the growth of Epic’s creator ecosystem. For now, Fortnite’s battle royale mode remains the most popular way to engage with the game — and Epic Games’ primary cash cow — but game makers interested in reaching an active and engaged audience are increasingly warming up to the opportunities represented by Unreal Editor for Fortnite.
Unreal Fest is taking place this week in Chicago — and today’s State of Unreal presentation is currently ongoing. Keep an eye on GamesBeat for more coverage, or tune into the official livestream via YouTube.
“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.”