Hundreds of thousands of Fortnite players in the U.S. may be eligible for refunds following a ruling by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which determined that users were improperly charged for unwanted purchases. The FTC announced that it is issuing 629,344 refunds amounting to over $72 million after alleging that Epic Games, the video game’s developer, “tricked” consumers and allowed children to incur unauthorized charges without parental consent.
The settlement, amounting to $245 million, was initially revealed in December 2022. The FTC’s announcement highlighted that Epic Games not only facilitated these unwanted charges but also allegedly restricted access for users who disputed unauthorized charges, creating what the agency described as “counterintuitive, consistent, and confusing” practices.
The first batch of payments was distributed this Monday, with nearly 630,000 payment transactions completed. Half of these refunds were processed through checks, while the other half utilized PayPal. Recipients received an average refund of about $114.
Consumers who are eligible for a refund can file a claim online, provided they meet specific criteria. Individuals may qualify if they were charged for in-game items they did not intend to purchase between January 2017 and September 2022, if a child made unauthorized charges to their credit card between January 2017 and November 2018, or if their account was locked after disputing wrongful charges. Those filing claims must be at least 18 years old, although parents or guardians can complete claims for minors.
To ensure eligibility for the refund, claims must be submitted by January 10, 2025. Payment amounts for approved claims vary based on several factors, including the number of claims submitted. Recipients who were part of the initial payment round were advised to redeem their PayPal payments within 30 days and cash their checks within 90 days. Further payments are anticipated in 2025 following a thorough review of claims by the FTC.
For more information, individuals can contact the refund administrator at 1-833-915-0880 or reach out via email at admin@fortniterefund.com.
This outcome not only highlights the importance of consumer protection in digital games but also serves as a reminder for parents to monitor their children’s online activities. The refunds underscore a growing accountability within the gaming industry, which may encourage developers to adopt clearer and fairer purchasing practices in the future.