[spoonjim]

Is that true about Fortnite? You don't get any competitive advantage anywhere from spending money? People are paying billions just to get different clothes on their character?

[minimaxir]

Yes.

Hacker News strongly underestimates the appeal of cosmetics.

[psyc]

Absolutely true. It’s Fortnite’s DNA, and you would hear wailing in the streets out your window the day they broke that promise.

[nawgz]

Fortnite, CSGO, Valorant, ... Shooter players hate paid advantages but certainly don't mind paid fashion

[GhettoComputers]

It’s not like Magic the Gathering. They do the same model in TF2 and CS even going as far as calling TF2 a hat simulator.

[duskwuff]

TF2 is a less pure example. Some purchaseable items are purely cosmetic, others have effects on game mechanics.

[nkrisc]

It's very expensive dress-up dolls. Except you can't hold them.

[unrealhoang]

Yes, the largest esport price pool (Dota2) is coming from cosmetic selling.

[pupppet]

Doesn't the Battle Pass give you some kind of competitive advantage?

[raydev]

No. Fortnite battle pass is a bundle of cosmetic items within a season, most of which you will need to unlock through gameplay after you purchase. Players are essentially signalling they’ve paid the fee and spent enough hours to unlock some skin or emote.

[ThatPlayer]

Battle passes in most games just give you a series of exclusive cosmetics to grind. And are time limited to urge you buy it sooner, and play more to grind it before it's over. Or you can spend more money to skip the grind.