Fortnite Players Getting Refunds from the FTC

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 10, 2024 29 Views 6 Min Read
Fortnite Players Getting Refunds from the FTC



Key Takeaways

  • FTC issuing $72M in refunds to Fortnite players.
  • Complaints include enabling unauthorized purchases by children, difficulty to dispute charges, and locking accounts.
  • Average payment to affected players will be around $114.



Select Fortnite players will soon receive refunds as part of a new initiative by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The reorganization is moving forward with issuing payments intended to help players affected by what it calls “dark patterns” carried out by Fortnite developer Epic Games. Millions of dollars will be sent out in the coming weeks, and affected players will receive notifications that they are eligible.

Launched all the way back in 2017, Fortnite has managed to remain at the forefront of the video game sphere thanks to consistent updates, quality-of-life improvements, and, of course, a steady flow of cosmetic monetization. From Fortnite‘s in-game storefront to constant new collaborations, there’s near limitless potential as to what can be brought into the world-famous battle royale third-person shooter. This is especially true for Fortnite‘s last two seasons, which saw several legendary faces, both real and fictional, make their way into the game. However, the FTC is taking issue with certain parts of Fortnite‘s monetization model and is now set to issue refunds for affected players.


Fortnite players can earn the Mr Dappermint and Chord Kahele skins for free.

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Fortnite Players Can Get 2 Free Skins Soon

Epic Games surprises fans by announcing that players will be able to earn two free skins useable in all of Fortnite’s various modes.

The FTC will issue over $72 million to players affected by what it calls “dark patterns” from Epic Games. “Fortnite’s counterintuitive, inconsistent, and confusing button configuration led players to incur unwanted charges based on the press of a single button,” reads the latest statement from the FTC. “The company also made it easy for children to make purchases while playing Fortnite without requiring any parental consent.” According to the FTC’s complaint against Epic Games, the studio also made it difficult for customers to dispute credit card charges, locking the accounts of those who attempted to file a claim. The average payment to each eligible player will be roughly $114.


FTC Paying Out Refunds to Fortnite Players


The FTC argues Epic Games let children rack up unauthorized purchases without the need of parental approval. The original complaint dates back to December 2022, which alleged Epic Games used a variety of design tricks to allow players of all ages to make in-game purchases in the ever-changing Fortnite shop. Fortnite has thrived on this “fear of missing out” for quite some time, though things appear to be changing. Public opinion has certainly changed regarding limited-time content within Fortnite, with Epic Games recently announcing previous battle passes will be made available in the future. Fans have long complained about seeing some of their favorite characters locked behind a timed event or battle pass, and this change seeks to address these concerns.

Fortnite recently entered its Chapter 6 update, which marks a brand-new era for the game as a whole. Not only is Fortnite‘s battle royal map littered with exciting new locations to uncover and explore, but the game also rolled out a brand-new battle pass. Chapter 6 will also include changes to Fortnite‘s LEGO and Festival modes, with several entirely new experiences likely on the way.


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