Epic Games’ Support-A-Creator program is expanding.
The publisher announced on Twitter its plans to implement the crowdfunding tool outside of Fortnite, and to enable it across the entire Epic Games Store. The move ties into the company’s greater effort to expand the visibility of its new digital distribution platform.
Support-A-Creator was initially introduced in October and offered content creators across various social media platforms the opportunity to receive a cut of fans’ in-game purchases within Fortnite. By linking their Epic accounts to the system, YouTubers, Twitch streamers, cosplayers, and more were able to receive $5 for every 10,000 V-Bucks spent in Fortnite. Though the system was initially planned to only run for three months, Support-A-Creator was received so well that it was made permanent in December.
Not long after, Epic introduced the Epic Games Store, another in an increasing number of digital video game storefronts.
Though it was initially focused on Fortnite, it has since expanded to include several popular indie games and a handful of exclusive AAA titles like Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 and Metro Exodus. With the Epic Games Store’s inventory growing, expanding Support-A-Creator to other titles can drive sales, and encourages influencers to steer their followers towards Epic’s new platform and away from Steam.
This is yet another in a quickly growing list of examples of Epic Games trying to find footholds to compete against the monolithic storefront that is Valve’s Stream. The first real shot in the battle was fired when Epic paid for one year of exclusivity for Metro Exodus after the game had already been listed in Steam, a practice Valve publicly decried as “unfair.”
While the trial version of Support-A-Creator focused exclusively on microtransactions in Fortnite, the expanded version will include the purchases of games on the Epic Games Store. It is not clear if this will eventually apply to downloadable content purchases made through the platform.
Details on the program and eligibility requirements can be found on Epic Games’ website.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
