Fortnite has once again found itself at the center of controversy after players noticed that both V-Bucks and cosmetic items were disappearing from their accounts. Since cosmetics and premium currency form the backbone of Fortnite’s free-to-play economy, the sudden removal sparked outrage across social media, with some players claiming they had lost thousands of V-Bucks and dozens of skins without explanation.
For several days, rumors spread that this was a technical bug affecting primarily Xbox players, with many believing it was a platform-specific glitch. Clips circulated online showing notifications sent to affected accounts, confirming that both V-Bucks and items had been revoked. Confusion quickly turned to frustration, as players demanded answers from Epic Games.
Epic Explains the V-Bucks and Cosmetics Removal
Epic has now clarified the situation. According to the official Fortnite Status account, the problem dates back to an Xbox refund system bug that existed between December 2024 and July 2025. During this period, when players refunded V-Bucks through Xbox, they would receive their money back but the refunded V-Bucks were not deducted from their in-game balance.
Some players realized this oversight and began abusing the system, using the duplicated V-Bucks to purchase cosmetics or even sell cheap currency to other players. After a thorough review of refund data, Epic decided to revoke the affected currency and items.
Epic emphasized that removals only targeted accounts that exploited the issue more than seven times. Players who crossed this threshold were assumed to be knowingly abusing the bug, and any purchases tied to those extra V-Bucks were deleted. In cases where an account ended up with a negative V-Bucks balance, Epic also removed skins and cosmetics to balance out the value.
Epic Admits Partial Responsibility
While Epic was firm about targeting exploitation, the company also admitted it shares blame for the situation. The V-Bucks system should have updated balances instantly, preventing any misuse in the first place. Epic noted that not every affected player intentionally abused the bug — some may not have even realized their balance was artificially inflated — which is why the revocations were limited to clear cases of repeated use.
The Bigger Picture
This situation highlights the fragile balance of live-service economies, where a single oversight can snowball into widespread exploitation. Cosmetics are the lifeblood of Fortnite’s business model, and ensuring fairness across its massive player base is essential.
For most players, nothing will change. But for those who leaned too heavily on the Xbox refund glitch, Epic’s crackdown has served as a stark reminder that exploiting system loopholes comes with consequences.
