While Epic Games has been in the midst of legal disputes between Google and Apple over the course of this year, the studio is still finding ways to expand on Fortnite as a platform. With the recent launch of the game on PS5 and Xbox Series X/Series S, Epic is going even further by introducing a long-rumored subscription service to the massively popular multiplayer game.

Epic Games has officially announced "Fortnite Crew," a new subscription service that allows players to earn V-Bucks, special cosmetic items, and more for a monthly fee. According to Epic's blog post with the announcement, the service will officially launch on December 2, 2020 for $11.99 per month across all platforms.

You can check out the full announcement trailer for the subscription service below:

The subscription service will launch alongside Fortnite Chapter 2 - Season 5, and will offer players with a variety of perks each month. Specifically, this will include access to the full season Battle Pass, 1,000 V-Bucks, and a "monthly Crew Pack" featuring a new Outfit Bundle exclusive to Fortnite Crew members. The first outfit, as seen in the announcement trailer, introduces the "Galaxia outfit" that includes a special Style, Pickaxe, and Backpack. Additionally, Epic also confirmed that it will reveal the contents of each upcoming new bundle at the end of every month.

Given that Fortnite continues to be a massive financial driver for Epic, it makes sense that the studio is looking to find new ways to encourage players to invest in the game long-term. While Fortnite already has its Battle Pass system in place, the Crew subscription is likely to entice players with the promise of exclusive items and gear that are only accessible through the service.

Fortnite is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X/Series S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, and mobile.