Fortnite players are set to receive refunds after Epic Games, the developer behind the popular game, reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The federal regulators claimed that Epic Games “tricked” players into making unwanted in-game purchases. As part of the settlement, over $72 million will be distributed to affected gamers, with the average refund amount around $114 per player.
Refunds for Over 600,000 Players
More than 600,000 Fortnite players will begin receiving refunds, as announced by the FTC. The move comes after the agency determined that Epic Games’ in-game purchasing system led players of all ages to make purchases unintentionally. This includes cases where players were charged for items while attempting to wake the game from sleep mode or during a loading screen. The game’s button configuration was described as “counterintuitive, inconsistent, and confusing,” making it easy for players to incur unwanted charges.
The FTC stated that the refund process is part of a broader effort to address the issues raised by these deceptive practices. While the agency did not immediately specify how the remaining refunds would be distributed, it confirmed that more would be sent at a later date.
Previous Settlement and Allegations
This refund announcement follows a prior settlement between Epic Games and the FTC in 2022, in which the company agreed to pay a total of $520 million. This earlier settlement resolved allegations that Epic Games collected personal data from children without first obtaining the necessary parental consent. At the time, the company also agreed to overhaul its privacy policies, chat functions, and reconfigure its purchasing setup to prevent further issues.
Although Epic Games neither confirmed nor denied the allegations in the latest case, the company has pledged to make adjustments to improve its game mechanics and player experience. A spokesperson for the developer did not respond to requests for comment following the latest announcement.
The Fortnite Phenomenon
Since its launch in 2017, Fortnite has grown into one of the most popular video games globally, with millions of active daily players. The game is a battle royale-style shooter where players fight in teams or solo to be the last player or team standing. Epic Games does not release specific player statistics, but websites like Active Player estimate that Fortnite currently boasts around 30 million active players daily.
With the FTC’s settlement, this case serves as a reminder of the power of digital games and their ability to affect consumer behavior, particularly when complex purchasing systems are involved.
