Sealed Physical Copy of Fortnite Sells for Record $42,500 at Auction

A sealed physical copy of Fortnite has sold for a jaw-dropping $42,500 at Heritage Auctions, setting a new record for the highest price ever paid for a copy of Epic Games' cultural phenomenon. The sale, which concluded on November 21, 2025, represents a more than 200% increase over the previous record of $13,750 set exactly one year earlier on November 23, 2024.

The astronomical price was driven by the copy's pristine condition and perfect Wata 10 A++ grade, the highest rating achievable in video game grading. According to Wata Games' September 2025 population report, this is the only copy of Fortnite across both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions to receive this flawless grade, making it a one-of-one collectible in the grading registry.

The Rarest Version of a Free Game

The irony of a $42,500 price tag for a game that has been free-to-play for over eight years is not lost on collectors. This particular copy represents the original 2017 Xbox One physical release of Fortnite, published by Gearbox in collaboration with Epic Games. The sealed box features the Storm Master Weapon Pack promotional sticker and contains the Save the World cooperative mode that predated Fortnite's transformation into a battle royale juggernaut.

When Fortnite first launched in July 2017, it was a paid cooperative survival game focused on base-building and defending against waves of zombie-like creatures called Husks. Players scavenged for resources, constructed elaborate defenses, and fought off increasingly difficult enemy waves in a cartoonish post-apocalyptic world. The game originally retailed for $60 and received a limited physical release before Epic Games shifted its entire strategy.

In September 2017, just two months after the original launch, Epic released Fortnite Battle Royale as a free-to-play mode inspired by the success of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. The battle royale mode exploded in popularity, eventually attracting an estimated 650 million players worldwide and transforming Fortnite into one of the most successful games in history. As the game pivoted to a digital-first, free-to-play model, physical copies became increasingly rare and sought-after by collectors.

The Video Game Grading Market

The sale reflects the growing video game collecting market, which has seen explosive growth in recent years as grading companies like Wata Games and VGA (Video Game Authority) bring authentication and condition standards similar to those used in trading card and comic book collecting. A Wata 10 A++ grade indicates that both the outer seal and box are in virtually flawless condition with no visible defects, tears, or wear.

Physical copies of early Fortnite releases are particularly rare because most players who purchased the game in 2017 immediately opened it to play, and the vast majority of Fortnite's massive player base has only ever downloaded the free digital version. Finding a sealed copy that remained unopened for eight years while the game became a cultural phenomenon is exceptionally uncommon, especially one preserved in perfect condition.

The grading process has created a tiered market for Fortnite physical copies. Other sealed copies are currently listed on eBay for between $7,000 and $10,000, though none of these have successfully found buyers at those price points. Even opened physical copies with unused Founders Deluxe codes have sold for around $750, while most opened copies without special codes typically sell for approximately $100.

Context and Comparisons

While $42,500 seems astronomical for a video game, it pales in comparison to some record-breaking sales in the broader collectibles market. In 2021, a 1998 Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card graded PSA 10 sold for $5.275 million. Rare vintage video games have also commanded high prices, with sealed copies of Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years.

The Fortnite sale also mirrors recent trends in video game collecting where failed or short-lived releases can suddenly become valuable. When Sony delisted Concord in September 2025 after the hero shooter's disastrous launch, physical copies immediately skyrocketed in value on secondary markets as collectors rushed to acquire pieces of gaming history.

Limited Edition Physical Releases

Beyond the original 2017 release, Fortnite received another physical edition in 2018 called the Deep Freeze Bundle. This version included the free-to-play Battle Royale mode alongside exclusive cosmetic items only available through the physical purchase, including the Frostbite Outfit, Cold Front Glider, Chill-Axe Pickaxe, and Freezing Point Back Bling. These bundles also trade at premium prices in the collector market, though they have not approached the values of the original Save the World release.

Market Outlook

The dramatic price increase from $13,750 to $42,500 in just one year suggests strong momentum in the Fortnite collecting market, though whether this represents sustainable growth or a speculative bubble remains to be seen. The pop-up sale price likely benefited from being the sole perfect-grade copy in existence, creating a unique opportunity for a collector to own an unrepeatable piece of gaming history.

As Fortnite continues its dominance in gaming culture with ongoing crossovers featuring properties like The Simpsons, Kill Bill, and Back to the Future in the upcoming Chapter 7, interest in the game's origins and early history may continue to fuel collector demand. However, the lack of successful sales for other high-priced listings on eBay suggests the market may be limited to a small number of serious collectors willing to pay five-figure sums for pristine copies.

For the original purchaser who held onto their sealed copy since 2017, the return on investment from a $60 retail game to a $42,500 auction sale represents a gain of over 70,000%, making it one of the most profitable gaming investments in recent memory.