this post was submitted on 13 Jan 2026
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58
Fortnite update enables a paid ‘slot machine’ mechanic in Steal the Brainrot (www.dexerto.com)
submitted 2 days ago by alessandro@lemmy.ca to c/pcgaming@lemmy.ca
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[–] ryper@lemmy.ca 36 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Now, third-party games can offer premium in-game items and effects, with developers pocketing 37% of the proceeds — temporarily doubled to 74% for 12 months.

Epic, the company that has been fighting Apple over app store commissions, intends to leave developers who create games inside Fortnite with just 37% of the money they bring in.

This bit from the IGN report linked in the article highlights the bullshit of microtransaction pricing:

Steal the Brainrot's 4,900 V-Buck "Present Rot" bundle has also come under fire — not only for its price, but for it being advertised as a limited-time discount on its usual 5,400 V-Buck cost. One of the constraints Epic Games has placed on third-party microtransactions is a 5,000 V-Buck upper limit for any individual item — meaning this item's saving is discounted from a price that couldn't actually be sold.

[–] Prove_your_argument@piefed.social 16 points 1 day ago (2 children)

MTX should be illegal in any game with players younger than 18 imo.

Gambling as a result of any transaction that could have come from real world money should be illegal in all games. (e.g. buy our tokens and pull the wheel! or... your purchase comes with two free spins, etc.)

I don't know how unpopular this opinion is, but at this point I really believe it. Nothing good comes from this shit.

[–] doublah@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 day ago

The realistic question is how would you enforce something like that, the recent push for age verification has been terrible for privacy and security.

[–] Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 1 day ago

I don't think it's unpopular, but I would be certain that none of the worst offenders would reform in any way other than utilizing legal workarounds.

The money speaks for itself. Gambling mechanics are a fantastic way to grab recurring revenue with a high growth potential, to the point of usurping the need for an initial sale for some "game models".

There are incredibly few f2p (or paid with developer hosted servers) games that are sustainable without a reliance on gambling or dark patterns, and mobile has shown us that there is no limit to how low you can go.

[–] calliope@retrolemmy.com 19 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Just when I think videogames couldn’t get any trashier or more depressing, something called “Steal the Brainrot” has a paid slot machine.

I feel like I’m stupider after reading the headline.

[–] BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago

Tim Sweeney is a nazi pedophile, so this tracks.

[–] NatakuNox@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

I'm starting to think video games, social media, and just electrics in general should be banned until you are 18.