Fortnite Players Eligible for $126 Million FTC Refund Over Unauthorized Charges
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is distributing over $126 million in refunds to Fortnite players who were allegedly charged for unwanted purchases, marking the latest phase of a broader settlement with Epic Games.
The FTC announced on Wednesday that this new round of payments follows an initial disbursement of $72 million in December 2024, bringing the total refund amount to nearly $300 million. The agency has extended the deadline for filing claims, offering a second chance for eligible consumers to seek reimbursement.
Epic Games Faces Scrutiny for “Dark Patterns” and Child Safety Concerns
The FTC’s action against Epic Games stems from “two separate record-breaking settlements” reached in December 2022. The gaming giant was initially ordered to pay $245 million in refunds for allegedly “tricking users into making unwanted charges.” According to the FTC, Epic employed what are known as “dark patterns” – deceptive interface designs – to encourage unintended purchases and failed to adequately prevent unauthorized charges made by children.
“The FTC alleged that Fortnite’s ‘counterintuitive, inconsistent, and confusing button configuration’ aided in these unwanted purchases,” the agency stated. Furthermore, Epic was penalized with a $275 million penalty for allegedly violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
In a statement released in December 2022, Epic Games acknowledged the evolving legal landscape. “The video game industry is a place of fast-moving innovation, where player expectations are high and new ideas are paramount,” a company release read. “Statutes written decades ago don’t specify how gaming ecosystems should operate. The laws have not changed, but their application has evolved and long-standing industry practices are no longer enough.” The company added that it had been implementing changes to align with player and regulator expectations.
Who is Eligible for a Fortnite Refund?
The FTC has outlined three primary categories of players who may be eligible for a refund:
- Those charged for in-game currency used to purchase items they did not intend to buy between January 2017 and September 2022.
- Parents whose children made charges in Fortnite using their credit card without their knowledge between January 2017 and November 2018.
- Players who were locked out of their accounts after disputing “wrongful charges” with their credit card companies between January 2017 and September 2022.
All ages are eligible, but the FTC requires a parent or guardian to submit the claim form on behalf of anyone under 18. Currently, the refund is exclusively available to players located in the United States.
If you filed a claim after February 14, 2025, the FTC is still reviewing your submission and will provide updates soon.
Claim Deadline and Application Process
The FTC has reopened the claim submission process, giving eligible individuals until July 9 to file a refund request.
Eligible players can apply for a refund through the official Fortnite refund website, utilizing either a claim number previously sent to their email address or their Epic Games account ID. While the FTC initially estimated an average refund of $114 in December 2024, the agency now states that the individual refund amount will vary based on the total number of claims received.
When Will Refunds Be Issued?
The next round of refunds is anticipated to be distributed in 2026, following the validation of all submitted claims. Claimants with questions regarding their payment status can contact a representative via email at [email protected] or by calling 1-833-915-0880.
Refunds will be issued either by check or through PayPal, and the FTC recommends cashing checks within 90 days and redeeming PayPal payments within 30 days of receipt.
