You Must Claim Your Part of the Fortnite FTC Settlement

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is asking Epic Games , a developer and publisher of online video games and software, to pay $520 million in damages over allegations that they tricked players into buying in-game items. According to the FTC, this is the largest refund in a gaming case to date.

Fortnite used ‘dark patterns’ to trick players, including minors

According to the Federal Trade Commission, Fortnite has made it easier for gamers and underage players to collect unauthorized charges by using various tricks known as “dark schemes” to waste money. The FTC claims that they used illogical, inconsistent and confusing button layouts to trick players into making purchases by pressing a single button. To make matters worse, Epic Games is also accused of terminating the accounts of players who disputed unauthorized charges with their credit card companies.

The settlement requires Epic Games to return $245 million to players for illegal dark templates and a $275 million fine for allegations of violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act rule . Epic Games is also prohibited from blocking players from their accounts for disputing unauthorized payments.

How to Claim Your Part of an Epic Games Dispute Settlement

If you’ve been charged for unwanted purchases while playing Fortnite in the US, you can apply for a refund here . You have until January 17, 2024 to do so. You must be at least 18 years old to submit a claim.

On September 19, 2023, the FTC began sending emails to 37 million gamers for those they know have already been affected. They will continue to send emails through October. According to the FTC, the following refund rights are:

• Between January 2017 and September 2022, you were charged in-game currency for unnecessary items.
• Between January 2017 and November 2018, your child made charges on your credit card without your knowledge.
• Your account was suspended between January 2017 and September 2022 after you complained to your credit card company about improper charges.

To submit a refund request, you will need your claim number or your Epic Account ID. You can find the claim number in the email sent by the FTC or find your Epic Account ID by following these steps .

How much will I receive in my Fortnite refund?

The Federal Trade Commission has not set an amount, which says it will depend on a variety of factors, including how many people apply for the $245 million in damages.

If you would like more information about the settlement, you can call the FTC Claims Administrator at 1-833-915-0880 or email[email protected] .