Fortnite Players to Receive $72M in Refunds Following FTC Settlement

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has initiated refund payments totaling over $72 million to Fortnite players affected by Epic Games' deceptive billing tactics. This is the first phase of refunds stemming from a $245 million settlement reached in December 2022 over allegations that the company used manipulative design strategies to facilitate unauthorized charges in its popular game Fortnite.

Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite, is a major player in the gaming industry with its flagship game attracting millions of users globally. Known for its free-to-play model supported by in-game purchases, Fortnite generated significant revenue from microtransactions, which are central to the FTC's allegations.

The FTC previously accused Epic Games of employing “dark patterns” — deceptive design techniques intended to trick users — resulting in unintentional purchases by players. These patterns reportedly exploited the game's interface, leading users to incur charges by pressing a single button, often during routine interactions such as waking the game from sleep mode, navigating loading screens, or previewing in-game items.

Additionally, the company was found to have allowed minors to make unauthorized purchases without parental involvement. When users attempted to dispute these charges, some were allegedly blocked from accessing previously purchased content, further compounding the harm.

Distributing $72 million to Fortnite players

The FTC's first wave of refunds includes 629,344 payments, distributed equally between PayPal transactions and mailed checks. Consumers who submitted valid claims chose their preferred payment method during the claims process.

The average refund amount is set to approximately $114 per recipient. As for redemption deadlines, PayPal payments must be redeemed within 30 days, and checks must be cashed within 90 days.

Eligible individuals can continue to submit their claims via the FTC's official refund portal at www.ftc.gov/fortnite, and they may qualify for a refund in a future round. Consumers with questions about the refunds can contact Rust Consulting, Inc., the designated refund administrator, via phone at 1-833-915-0880 or email at admin@fortniterefund.com.

The $245 million settlement ranks among the largest penalties for consumer protection violations in gaming history, emphasizing the need for transparent billing practices in digital platforms.

The FTC's broader efforts to safeguard consumers include a commitment to refund individuals harmed by deceptive practices. In 2023 alone, FTC actions led to $330 million in refunds. The Commission also provides resources to help consumers identify and report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Consumers are advised to follow these practices to avoid incurring unwanted charges:

• Always review billing details before confirming in-app purchases.
• Make sure to read and understand a video game publisher's refund terms for in-game purchases.
• Monitor accounts tied to minors and enable parental controls to prevent unauthorized charges.
• Be cautious of unsolicited communications claiming to offer refunds; the FTC will never request personal financial details to issue payments.