U.S. consumers who mistakenly made unwanted purchases in Fortnite will soon see refunds, as announced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite, has begun distributing payments related to a $520 million settlement reached last year due to complaints about its marketing practices and child privacy issues.
The FTC accused Epic of utilizing misleading online design strategies that led players, including children, to make unintended purchases through simple actions, such as waking the game from sleep mode or accidentally hitting a nearby button. In addition to a $275 million fine for mishandling personal information of users under 13, the settlement included $245 million designated for customer refunds.
This week, the FTC reported that over 629,000 eligible players will receive refunds, with approximately half of the payments being processed through PayPal and the other half being issued as checks. The average refund amount is around $114. This initial round of payments totals over $72 million, with approximately $173 million still available for future distributions.
Affected consumers can apply for refunds until January 10, 2025. This opportunity is available to Fortnite players who incurred charges for unwanted in-game items or whose accounts were locked after disputing charges between January 2017 and September 2022. Additionally, parents whose children made unauthorized credit card charges from January 2018 through November 2018 can also apply.
For more details and to submit a claim, individuals can visit the FTC’s website. This situation highlights the importance of consumer rights and the responsibility of companies to ensure fair marketing practices.
The proactive measures being taken by both the FTC and Epic Games reflect a commitment to ethical practices and consumer protection, which could help restore trust among players moving forward.