Epic’s Picks is an editorial program designed to help raise player visibility for innovative Fortnite islands. The objective is to incentivize the creation of highly polished and boundary-pushing UEFN games, and help player discover them.
Policy Summary
Each week, Epic will highlight four islands in Epic’s Picks.
Islands will have larger thumbnails in Discover and will autoplay trailers on hover.
Islands in Epic’s Picks that reach more than 4,000 CCU can trigger Trending in Discover and may appear in the Homebar for players until they reach an impressions cap.
After seven days in Epic’s Picks, islands that reached more than 2,000 CCU will be recommended for promotion in the in-Fortnite news (MOTD).
Guidelines
You must apply and be selected in order to be featured in Epic’s Picks, and islands must be published and public before applying.
If an island is selected for Epic’s Picks, it can be re-featured every three months.
Islands will not be reconsidered for one month after being rejected.
Developer accounts whose islands are featured in Epic’s Picks cannot have another island featured again for one month starting from the date they first appear in Epic’s Picks.
While we encourage optimizing and updating island functionality while being featured in Epic’s Picks, introducing significant changes to the environment or gameplay (just before or during) the time it’s featured may result in being removed from the row.
Selection criteria is based on the Three Pillars of Epic’s Picks; Innovation, Gameplay, and Environment. More information available below.
Thumbnails or changes to the island’s metadata that violate our Fortnite Developer Rules may be removed from the row.
For information on how to create thumbnails, see Making Thumbnails and Videos. For thumbnail guidelines, see Thumbnail Image Guidelines for Discover.
Genre and Device Spotlights
Every quarter, we highlight specific genres and devices we plan to feature in Epic's Picks over the next two quarters, meaning that every three months, there will be new genres and devices introduced. While we won't limit featured islands exclusively to the specific genres and devices, we will prioritize them.
Genres
January-June 2026 (Q1 + Q2)
Arcade Games
Islands with simple mechanics, quick rounds, score/time-based.
Open World Maps
Islands that let players freely explore vast environments and complete objectives or activities through non-linear exploration.
Live Event / Cinematic Shooters
Live event in an environment that pushes the boundaries of UEFN.
Fight scenes caught with camera devices that create cinematic shots.
October 2025 - March 2026 (Q4 + Q1)
Social Deduction / Social Survival
Action RPG Maps
Islands that offer unique quests, with progression systems, action-driven class systems, and compelling narrative.
Featured Device(s)
Devices that push the limits of what Scene Graph can do!
Islands that use tools like Bubble Chat, the Disguise device, the Voting Group device, the Voting Options device, and the Multiplayer Skilled Interaction device to build innovative experiences.
Process Outline
Review Common Mistakes to Avoid When Submitting Your Island for Epic’s Picks before applying. You can increase your island’s chances by building towards the current featured genre and devices.
Island Application Review
Apply using the submission form with gameplay footage and your island code.
Applications are verified for:
Eligibility (Island Engagement Program)
Valid code
Applications that highlight innovative, well-designed, and unique islands move to playtesting.
Playtesting Phase
The Discover team dedicates select times during the week to playtest islands in order of date submitted.
Evaluation looks at whether the island is a high-quality experience based on genre and the three pillars:
Innovative
Environment
Gameplay
The island is also reviewed for any violations of policy.
Islands that meet our criteria proceed to legal review.
Legal Review
All islands, including but not limited to its core features and mechanics, must pass legal review:
The island, its thumbnail, and metadata are reviewed.
Any island that fails legal review is automatically rejected.
Scheduling
Islands that pass all checks are grouped into cohorts and scheduled for featuring.
Exceptions can be made for time-sensitive featuring that still pass all above criteria.
Three Pillars of Epic's Picks: Innovation, Gameplay, and Environment
Innovation
Find something new to do in Fortnite that hasn’t been tried before or introduce a whole new way of playing a common mode. Experimentation and iteration is the key.
Uniqueness - Find genres or game modes that inspire you and that have rarely been seen in Fortnite. Just because an idea has been tried before doesn’t mean you can’t improve on it or make it completely different.
Technical execution - Using current tools and devices, show off how much you know about UEFN. Find creative ways to execute your ideas. You can inspire the next wave of content by figuring out creative solutions.
It's all about fun - The game needs to be engaging and exciting! Ideas are great when the audience can resonate and have fun playing together or solo. What makes this game a must try? Why should players find your game compelling? Answering fundamental questions like these build the basis of all great games!
Gameplay
Create something new or make improvements to existing genres that weren’t thought of before.
Mechanics - Introduce a new feature or mechanic that fits the theme or genre of the island. Find ways to make the gameplay more interesting than what has been previously tried. The game should feel new and easy enough for players to pick up on.
Design - The experience should feel fresh and intuitive. The more complicated it is, the more effort needs to be put into introducing it in a simple, streamlined way. Balance the difficulty level with friendly systems that welcome new players and reward returning players.
Replayability - Unlock multiple ways for players to interact and experience your game. Whether that's through exploration, finding hidden secrets, being the best, or developing multiple ways for players to interact with your content, give players a reason to keep coming back.
Environment
Create an island that is memorable and unique. Something that sticks out from the very first moment. These elements set your environment apart:
Lighting and atmosphere - The placement and intensity of lighting can set the mood of your island. It can also help players navigate around the map and find key points of interest.
Visual distinctiveness - Using unique assets or models that give your island a distinctive style makes it stand out from the rest.
Map Layout and Flow - How players move through the island and the pacing are core concepts that make an island fun to play. Alternating between open and closed spaces, providing line of sight to objectives, or unlocking new areas are subtle ways to let players know where to go. Good navigation and flow means players can maintain engagement with your island while feeling confident they know how to navigate it.
Environment details - Layering your map to include elevation of underground spaces keeps it from being stale. Give players unique ways to navigate your space, and be thoughtful about the details you add, like props and terrain.