Hundreds of thousands of Fortnite players will soon receive refunds after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) determined that Epic Games had misled consumers into making unintended in-game purchases. The FTC announced on Monday that it will distribute $72 million in refunds as part of an ongoing effort to compensate players who were impacted by the developer’s controversial billing practices.
This payout follows a significant settlement from December 2022 in which Epic Games agreed to pay a total of $245 million to players affected by its “unlawful billing practices.” The FTC emphasized that this is just the first phase of refunds, with additional payments planned for the future.
Epic Games is accused of employing deceptive design strategies, often referred to as “dark patterns,” that led players—particularly children—to unintentionally incur charges. Reports indicate that a single unintentional button press, such as waking the game from sleep mode or previewing an item, could result in unauthorized charges. The complaint outlined these practices as occurring between 2017 and 2022.
Moreover, the FTC alleged that Epic Games barred customers who disputed unauthorized charges from accessing their accounts, denying them the content they had purchased.
As part of the settlement with the FTC, Epic Games committed to paying $245 million, which is designated for consumer refunds. This amount marks the FTC’s largest refund in a gaming-related case to date.
So far, nearly 630,000 individuals will receive refunds, with payments evenly split between PayPal and checks, amounting to an average of about $114 per customer. Customers who provided their preferred payment method during the claim process have 30 days to claim PayPal funds and 90 days for checks. Players who believe they qualify for a refund can still submit a claim online, with the deadline set for January 10.
This development not only offers financial relief to affected consumers but also serves as an important reminder of the need for transparency and ethical practices in the gaming industry. As regulators continue to hold companies accountable for their business practices, players can find hope in the potential for a more fair and consumer-friendly gaming environment in the future.