Fortnite Refunds: Over 629,000 Players to Receive Payments
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced the first round of refunds for over 629,000 Fortnite players who were allegedly charged for unwanted in-game purchases. These refunds stem from a $520 million settlement reached with Epic Games, Fortnite’s creator, in 2022.
The FTC alleged that Epic Games used deceptive design tactics to trick players, including children, into making unintended purchases. These tactics included charging players while they were simply waking the game from sleep mode or accidentally pressing a button while previewing an item.
Consumers complained of being charged without their knowledge or consent, and the FTC also accused Epic of blocking users who disputed these charges from accessing purchased content.
Millions Distributed, More to Come
Over 629,000 eligible customers have now been sent refund payments, totaling over $72 million.
- Half: are PayPal payments that will be redeemed within 30 days.
- The remaining half: are mailed checks expected to be cashed within 90 days.
The average refund amount is about $114.
While this is a significant first step, approximately $173 million in refunds still remains to be distributed.
Who Is Eligible for a Refund?
Impactful customers include:
- Fortnite players: Charged for in-game currency for items they didn’t want between January 2017 and September 2022.
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Players who had their accounts locked: After disputing charges with a credit card company during the same period.
- Parents: Whose child made unauthorized charges on their credit card between January 2018 and November 2018.
Apply for Your Refund
If you believe you qualify, you can apply for a refund online through the FTC’s website.
Apply for a Fortnite Refund Online:
(Deadline to Submit a Claim: January 10, 2025)
Learn more about the settlement on the FTC’s website FTC Website:
Epic Games, at the time of the settlement announcement, stated its commitment to consumer protection and stated they were already implementing changes to ensure a better player experience. Epic Games Statement: