Creators who make content for Fortnite can start monetizing their virtual goods in December.

The free-to-play online game’s publisher, Epic Games, announced that those in its Creator program will earn revenue from the sale of in-game items they’ve made and money they already earn from engagement payouts for Epic-created items.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

Before platform and store fees, those creators ordinarily will earn 50% of the value of V-Bucks earned (V-Bucks are the platform’s virtual currency). But from December until the end of 2026, Epic is boosting that revenue cut to 100 percent — again, before fees. Fees vary from 12% to 30%, depending on whether players buy items directly from the Epic Games Store or from platforms such as the PlayStation Store or the Xbox Store.

Epic has been involved in ongoing legal battles with Apple and Google over app store fees. This year, Fortnite returned to the iOS platform in Europe and to Android devices after being pulled over the disputes.

One reason that Fortnite is sharing the wealth with community developers is that its biggest competitor, Roblox, has been growing with multiple hit games on its platforms. This month, Roblox boasted that its creators earned more than $1 billion in revenue for 2024. 

Roblox has been dealing with other problems, however, including complaints from parents and child-advocacy groups about safety on the platform. These issues have prompted Roblox to introduce more monitoring and filtering features.

In honor of Google’s birthday, the company is offering up a number of deals, and Amazon has decided to match an excellent one for those looking to upgrade to a new phone. Normally $899, you can grab a Pixel 9 phone at Amazon for $699. That’s a nice $200 savings. The Pixel 9 isn’t the latest Pixel phone but it’s still a fantastic option. So much so that we even consider it one of the best Android phones out there. Act fast, this birthday deal isn’t going to last long.

The Google Pixel 9 is the sweet spot if you are looking for a compact phone that doesn’t compromise on camera, performance or display specs. It has a 6.3-inch display, a long-lasting battery and is, of course, 5G-ready. And this previous-gen flagship has a camera system without any differentiation from the bigger model of that series. It also comes equipped with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

The phone is available in multiple colors but the special price isn’t offered across all of them. For that reason, we suggest making sure to check the price of your preferred color before placing your order. Don’t worry if the Pixel 9 isn’t for you, though. We’re rounding up all the best phone deals so you don’t wind up paying more than you need to.

Why this deal matters

This Pixel 9 isn’t the latest that Google has to offer, but it’s still a great option. The Pixel 9 will continue to receive Android feature and security updates for a long time to come. That means you won’t need to replace your Pixel for years, making this deal an even better value. If you’re an Android fan who likes their phones to be as straightforward as possible, Google’s Pixel phones are a great place to start your search.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source on Chrome.

As the newest iPhones hit the shelves today, the Apple faithful can count their blessings that they aren’t paying more for the new phones. iPhones have never been cheap, but it was pretty clear when the prices for the new iPhone 17 lineup were revealed at Apple’s fall iPhone event earlier this month that they could have gotten worse, considering the year of tariffs and other economic turmoil.

CNET senior editor James Bricknell wasn’t surprised by the iPhone prices.

«Given the tariffs and all the other stuff that’s happened in the past year, the prices are good,» he said. «They match what you would expect in terms of inflation rather than the leap I was expecting.»

Apple unveiled three models during the event: the iPhone 17, the iPhone Air and the iPhone 17 Pro. That’s right — the skinny new iPhone Air doesn’t have «17» in its name. The full lineup also includes the low-end iPhone 16E, released earlier this year.

iPhone 16E, from $599

CNET Managing Editor Patrick Holland reviewed the iPhone 16E, which is Apple’s most affordable iPhone, and noted that some compromises had to be made to get the price down. There’s no Dynamic Island cutout for one thing, and it only comes in black and white.

iPhone 17, from $799

The standard iPhone 17 has some small upgrades over past models, namely a new chip, a brighter and sharper screen, better cameras and an improved selfie camera. With the introduction of the super-thin iPhone Air, this phone is now Apple’s entry-level flagship.

iPhone Air, from $999

The new iPhone Air made headlines for its slim shape, weighing in at just 165 grams. Apple called the Air the «most power-efficient iPhone we have ever made» and says it has all-day battery life. It clocks in at just under $1,000 as its starting price.

iPhone 17 Pro, from $1,099

The priciest iPhones are the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, which pack a range of camera upgrades plus a new orange color. While the iPhone 16 Pro was slightly cheaper at a $999 starting price last year, CNET Editor-at-Large Andrew Lanxon notes, «It’s now got double the storage and actually costs the same as the equivalent 256GB iPhone 16 Pro.»

If you’re rolling in cash, the iPhone 17 Pro Max with 2TB of storage will happily take more of your money. It’s priced at $1,999. 

How to order the new iPhone

Sold on the new iPhone lineup? Preorders begin on Friday, and launch day is Sept. 19.