Hundreds of thousands of players of the popular online game Fortnite will be receiving refunds after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) determined that Epic Games, the game’s developer, engaged in deceptive practices leading to unauthorized in-game purchases. The FTC announced on Monday that a total of $72 million is set to be refunded to affected customers, marking the initial round of payouts stemming from a 2022 agreement in which Epic Games consented to pay $245 million due to unlawful billing practices.
The FTC has indicated that more refunds will be distributed in the future as part of this ongoing settlement.
Epic Games has been accused of utilizing “dark patterns” in the game’s design, which misled players—especially younger gamers—into making unintended purchases without their parents’ permission. Incidents where a single button press could result in unexpected charges have been reported, reflecting a troubling lack of transparency in their billing methods. Moreover, players who disputed these unauthorized charges often found themselves locked out of their accounts, losing access to their previously purchased content.
This significant settlement is noted as the FTC’s largest refund in a gaming-related case. Currently, nearly 630,000 gamers will be receiving refunds, with an average of around $114 per person. Refunds will be distributed as either PayPal payments or checks, depending on the preference indicated by recipients when submitting their claims. Players interested in claiming their refunds have until January 10 to apply online.
Despite these issues, there is hope for a more transparent and consumer-friendly gaming environment moving forward. The actions taken by the FTC underscore the importance of protecting consumers against unfair practices, encouraging developers to adopt clearer billing practices in their games.
In summary, this situation highlights both the potential pitfalls of in-game purchases and the growing willingness of regulatory agencies to hold companies accountable, which can help foster a healthier gaming ecosystem for all players.