Players involved in the virtual world of Fortnite may have a real-world windfall coming their way. Per statements from the NBC Chicago report, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is distributing over $126 million in refunds to the gaming community after Epic Games settled complaints over deceptive payment practices. This slice of the digital pie follows a $72 million refund issued back in December 2024.
According to the same report, these stems from a massive $520 million settlement Epic agreed to pay back in 2022. These latest refunds cater to consumers who lodged their valid claim by February 14. However, recognizing that not everyone has received their restitution, the FTC has extended the claims deadline to July 9 for players who missed the first boat.
The refunds address a swell of grievances that accused Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite, of using misleading tactics to dupe players. Kids and unsupervised minors were reported to have made unintended purchases by merely pressing a single button. Some players found their accounts blocked after they contested charges, rendering their purchased content inaccessible.
The issued refunds come after a separate agreement where Epic faced a $275 million fine due to allegations that it mishandled kids' personal data, violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act Rule. Now, checks and PayPal payments are on their way to nearly 970,000 claimants, as CBS News articulated. The FTC advises recipients to cash checks within 90 days and accept PayPal funds within 30 days.
For those eligible players who've had their fill of unwanted in-game charges or those parents whose credit cards served as a piggy bank for their children's Fortnite forays from January 2017 to September 2022, compensation could be on the horizon. To verify eligibility and apply for a refund, claimants are directed to visit a dedicated FTC website, using their Epic Account ID or claim number. If you're a guardian applying on behalf of a minor, prep to launch into that bureaucratic battle royale before the extended July 9 deadline.
