Consumers in the United States who fell victim to deceptive practices by Fortnite maker Epic Games are now starting to receive refund checks, as confirmed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) this week.
In 2022, Epic Games agreed to a settlement of $520 million to address complaints related to children's privacy and payment methods within its popular Fortnite game. The FTC accused the gaming company of employing misleading online design strategies to deceive players, including minors, into making unintended purchases with the simple press of a button.
According to the FTC, consumers could unknowingly be charged for purchases while performing routine actions such as waking the game from sleep mode or previewing an item. Additionally, Epic Games was accused of blocking users who disputed charges from accessing their purchased content.
The settlement included a $275 million fine for collecting personal information from players under 13 years old and $245 million allocated for customer refunds. The initial wave of refunds is now being distributed.
The FTC announced that over 629,000 payments are being sent to eligible customers who filed claims. Approximately half of these refunds will be processed through PayPal within 30 days, while the remaining refunds will be issued as checks to be cashed within 90 days.
On average, each refund amounts to about $114, totaling more than $72 million in the first round of payments. An additional $173 million is yet to be distributed.
Impacted consumers can still apply for refunds online. Eligible recipients include Fortnite players who were charged for unwanted in-game items or had their accounts locked after disputing charges with their credit card company between January 2017 and September 2022. Parents whose children made unauthorized charges on their credit cards from January 2018 to November 2018 are also eligible.
For more information on how to claim a refund, individuals can visit the FTC's website. The deadline for submitting a claim is January 10, 2025.
Upon the settlement announcement in December 2022, Epic Games expressed its commitment to consumer protection and enhancing player experiences. The company stated that it was implementing changes to align with player and regulatory expectations, aiming to set a positive example for the gaming industry.
