Fortnite Relaxes Battle Pass Exclusivity With Latest Changes
Future Battle Pass items will now have the chance to feature in the in-game shop, but only after a lengthy delay.
Posted 3 months ago
Ever since Fortnite introduced the Battle Pass back in 2017, one thing had been certain: included cosmetics were exclusive to those who earned them during the season. However, Epic Games has now announced that it will begin to relax that rule, allowing for pass-locked items to be available to buy at a later date.
As detailed on the Epic Games website, future Battle Pass cosmetics may return for purchase via the Fortnite Shop, but only after at least 18 months beyond the expiration of their containing pass. It should be noted, though, that this change doesn’t impact older Battle Passes. Their content will remain exclusive for now.
Epic Games is fairly broad in defining what items may appear in the Fortnite Shop after the exclusivity period. Outfits, Back Blings, Banner Icons, and more may appear in the store after 18 months of pass expiry. However, the developer has confirmed that it may keep some items exclusive, stating: “If an item in a future Battle Pass will never be available outside the Pass, we’ll let you know!”
That exclusivity may include alternate styles and color schemes for skins, with Epic Games adding: “The number of alt Styles included with a Battle Pass item may vary each time it comes to the Shop.” That being said, buying a standard Outfit will still grant you the Lego version – provided there is one, of course – so you can enjoy visiting the recently added Lego Fortnite bus stations with your newest skins.
This update marks a significant change to Fortnite’s model. The cosmetics included with each season have long been seen as a big driver for Battle Pass purchases. While this does remove an exclusive appeal for some players, it should be great news to anyone who regularly misses out on licensed characters. Epic specifically introduced the change to allow “players down the road to enjoy Battle Pass content such as Outfits based on popular licensed characters.”
Considering how many items are made available in Fortnite, it’s still likely that many new additions will remain rare. Epic notes that, even without exclusivity, there’s no guarantee that all future Battle Pass items will be in the Fortnite Shop after that 18-month period ends.
While exclusivity has changed, the rest of the Battle Pass remains functionally the same. Players can still purchase a pass with each season and earn the rewards by leveling up during that season. For those with the time, this will almost certainly prove cheaper than buying individual items when they appear in the Shop. If you’re looking for incentive to jump in and make progress, the ongoing Fortnite Fall Guys event adds obstacle courses and bean-based variants of several Fortnite skins to the game.