Tennessee players of Fortnite may soon receive some financial relief due to a recent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) refund initiative. On Monday, the FTC announced the distribution of refunds totaling $72 million to customers of Epic Games, the creator of the iconic video game Fortnite. This follows a settlement from 2022 in which Epic Games agreed to compensate players who experienced what the FTC termed “unlawful billing practices.”
Epic Games has consented to pay up to $245 million in refunds to those affected by these practices. The main issues stem from the game’s microtransactions, where players can buy in-game items like costumes and dance moves, despite Fortnite being a free-to-play game. The FTC alleges that Epic Games employed misleading design tactics, referred to as “dark patterns,” which made it easy for children to unwittingly accumulate charges without the necessary parental consent.
Between 2017 and 2022, players inadvertently incurred charges from simple actions like waking the game from sleep mode or browsing purchasable items. Furthermore, the FTC highlighted that if a player contested these charges, Epic would often disable their account, resulting in the loss of access to purchased content.
The settlement reached in December 2022 is historic, as it marks the largest refund stemming from the gaming industry secured by the FTC to date. Approximately 630,000 Fortnite players are initially eligible for refunds, with average payouts expected to be around $114. Eligible players received a form to complete to select their preferred payment method once the settlement was finalized. PayPal payments have a redemption period of 30 days, while checks must be cashed within 90 days.
If you believe you are owed a refund but did not yet submit a claim, there’s still an opportunity to do so until January 10, 2025, with claims accepted online.
While the FTC has not specified a timeline for the additional funds distribution, it has assured that further refunds will be allocated in due course.
This initiative not only highlights the importance of accountability in the gaming industry but also brings hope that consumers can seek restitution when misled in their transactions. It serves as a reminder that players need to be aware of purchasing practices and encourages fair play in the gaming community.