If you were affected by Epic Games’ handling of in-game purchases in Fortnite, now is the time to act. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is disbursing payments as part of a $245 million settlement addressing the use of deceptive practices that increased in-game sales.
Who Is Eligible?
The settlement applies to Fortnite players charged for unwanted purchases between January 2017 and September 2022. Claims can still be filed until January 10, 2025, for those who haven’t yet participated.
The FTC determined that Epic Games used “dark patterns” to mislead players into making unintended purchases. According to the agency, Fortnite’s confusing button layout often caused charges to be made with just one accidental press. Additionally, accounts that disputed these charges were sometimes locked, leaving players without access.
Eligible claims include:
Charges for unwanted in-game items or currency made between January 2017 and September 2022.
Credit card charges by minors made without parental consent from January 2017 to November 2018.
Accounts locked after disputing a charge during the same period.
How to File a Claim
To participate, you must be 18 or older, or have a parent or guardian file on your behalf. Claims can be submitted through the FTC’s Epic Games/Fortnite page.
If you received an email notification with a claim number, you’ll need to provide it along with passing a CAPTCHA test.
If you did not receive a claim number, you can file using your Epic account ID. Instructions for retrieving your account ID are available on the Epic Games support page.
Settlement Payments
The FTC announced on Dec. 9 that it has already started distributing funds to 629,344 claimants who filed by the October 8, 2024, deadline. The average payout is approximately $114 per person. One recipient, a CNET staff member, reported receiving $95.98 via PayPal, a pleasant surprise after forgetting about their claim.
For claims filed after October 8, 2024, the FTC has not yet provided a timeline for payments, stating only that it is still reviewing these submissions.
Fortnite and In-Game Spending
As a free-to-play game, Fortnite relies heavily on purchases of in-game items like Battle Passes, cosmetics, and V-Bucks, making ethical sales practices critical. Epic Games has since introduced measures to ensure payment authorizations are more secure and transparent, particularly for its large base of younger players.
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