The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has begun issuing a second round of refunds totaling over $126 million to Fortnite players charged for unwanted in-game purchases, expanding the consumer redress effort following its 2023 settlement with Epic Games.
Alongside the new disbursement, the FTC has reopened the claims process through July 9, 2025, offering eligible consumers a final opportunity to seek compensation.
This development stems from a $245 million settlement reached in December 2022, in which Epic Games agreed to pay penalties for using deceptive user interface designs, commonly referred to as “dark patterns,” that led to unauthorized charges. The settlement is one of the largest consumer protection actions in gaming history.
The first phase of refunds, completed in December 2024, distributed over $72 million across 629,344 valid claims. With the latest wave, nearly $200 million has now been returned to consumers affected by Epic's practices.
Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite, is a dominant force in the global gaming industry. The company's flagship title operates under a free-to-play model supported by microtransactions, many of which target a young user base. According to the FTC, Epic's design choices enabled accidental purchases through single-button presses during common game interactions, such as waking the game from sleep, navigating menus, or previewing items. In numerous cases, minors were able to authorize charges without parental approval, and some users were subsequently locked out of purchased content after disputing transactions.
This latest round of payments, issued on June 25 and June 26, includes 969,173 disbursements made via mailed checks and PayPal. As before, recipients selected their preferred payment method when filing their claims. Checks must be cashed within 90 days, while PayPal payments must be redeemed within 30 days. The refund administrator, Rust Consulting, Inc., is managing inquiries via phone (1-833-915-0880) and email (admin@fortniterefund.com).
Consumers who haven't yet submitted a claim but believe they are eligible can do so through this portal until July 9, 2025. Eligibility is generally based on purchases made in Fortnite that were unauthorized or unintentionally initiated under the deceptive practices cited in the FTC's complaint.
This action is part of the FTC's broader mandate to safeguard consumers in digital marketplaces. In 2024 alone, the agency facilitated over $339 million in refunds through various enforcement actions. The Commission continues to warn consumers to avoid scams and impersonation attempts: legitimate refunds do not require fees or the provision of sensitive financial information.
For consumers, especially parents of minors, the FTC offers the following guidance to avoid unwanted in-game charges:
- Carefully review and confirm all in-game purchases before completing transactions.
- Enable parental controls on gaming accounts to prevent unauthorized spending by minors.
- Familiarize yourself with the refund and billing policies of the platforms your household uses.
- Stay cautious of unsolicited messages claiming to offer refunds, and always verify the source.
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