Fortnite players were tricked into making purchases, feds say. How to get a refund
A federal complaint over Fortnite’s accused privacy violations and unwanted charges ended in a $245 million settlement. Now, some players may be entitled to a cut of the money.
The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday, Sept. 19, announced the claims process after Fortnite’s parent company, Epic Games, agreed to resolve accusations that it used “design tricks” to get users to make unintended in-game purchases.
“The company also made it easy for children to rack up charges without parental consent and locked the accounts of consumers who disputed unauthorized charges with their credit card companies,” the commission said.
The FTC said it began notifying affected users — more than 37 million people — via email this week.
In a statement posted on its website in December, when the company and the FTC agreed to a settlement, Epic Games said it’s making the necessary changes “to ensure our ecosystem meets the expectations of our players and regulators.”
“The video game industry is a place of fast-moving innovation, where player expectations are high and new ideas are paramount,” the statement reads, in part. “We accepted this agreement because we want Epic to be at the forefront of consumer protection and provide the best experience for our players.”
The deadline to file claim is Jan. 17, 2024.
Here’s how to claim your share:
Who’s eligible?
You may claim a refund if:
- You were charged in-game currency for unwanted items between January 2017 and September 2022.
- Your child charged your credit card without you knowing between January 2017 and November 2018.
- You were locked out of your account between January 2017 and September 2022 after disputing the unauthorized charges to your credit card company.
Users must also be at least 18 years old to file a claim.
How do I apply for a refund?
Affected players can complete and submit a claim form online, the FTC said. You’ll need a claim number, provided via email, or your Epic Account ID.
How much will I get paid?
The commission advised that refund amounts are dependent on multiple factors, including how many people submit a valid claim.
When will I get paid?
The mailing date for potential payment hasn’t been announced, the FTC said.
This story was originally published September 20, 2023 at 6:02 PM with the headline "Fortnite players were tricked into making purchases, feds say. How to get a refund."