Fortnite Players Eligible for Refunds After Unwanted Purchases – How to Apply
Have you ever played Fortnite? If so, you might be entitled to a refund. Recently, a major development has emerged for players of the popular game, as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) began issuing refund checks to those who were "tricked" into making unintended purchases while playing. This comes after Fortnite's developer, Epic Games, reached a significant settlement over accusations of using deceptive tactics that resulted in gamers being charged for items they never intended to buy.
The controversy stems from complaints filed in 2022, when Epic Games agreed to pay a staggering $520 million to settle allegations that it violated children's privacy laws and used "dark patterns" in the game to mislead players. The FTC claimed that the game’s design had several tricks that caused players to make unintended purchases, often with just the press of a button. These charges could occur even when players weren’t intending to buy anything, such as when they simply tried to wake the game from sleep mode or preview an item. The FTC also accused Epic of locking accounts of users who disputed charges, leaving them without access to content they had already purchased.
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As part of the settlement, Epic Games agreed to pay $245 million in customer refunds, with $275 million going toward a penalty for violating children's privacy regulations. This week, the first round of payments is being processed, totaling over $72 million. Around 629,000 affected consumers will receive refunds, with the average amount being around $114. The refunds are being sent either via PayPal or check, depending on how the consumers filed their claims.
If you are one of the affected players who was charged for items you didn’t want between January 2017 and September 2022, or if your child made unauthorized purchases between January 2018 and November 2018, you could be eligible for a refund. Additionally, if your account was locked after disputing wrongful charges, you can also apply. The deadline to submit a claim is January 10, 2025, so there's still time to apply.
The FTC has stated that the refund process is straightforward. Those who have already filed valid claims by October 8, 2024, are receiving their refunds now. For others, refunds will continue to be distributed as claims are processed. If you haven't applied yet, you can do so by visiting the FTC's official website and filling out the claim form.
Epic Games has expressed regret over the incident, acknowledging that the game’s design led to unintentional charges. While the company continues to make changes to improve its in-game purchasing system, this settlement serves as a reminder of the importance of consumer protection, especially when it comes to children and online games. If you believe you are eligible, don’t wait—take action before the deadline and claim your refund today.
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