Prime Highlights
- FTC sends $126 million in Fortnite refunds to almost 970,000 gamers through June 26.
- Refund deadline now July 9, 2025.
Key Facts
- Refunds are part of a $245 million settlement that accused the company of deceptive in-game fees.
- Paid out through PayPal or check; redemption deadlines apply.
Key Background
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is refunding $126 million to close to 969,000 Fortnite gamers as part of a huge settlement with Epic Games for deceptive billing. The June 25 and 26, 2025, issued refunds were the second payment of compensation following the first round of refunds in December 2024.
FTC settled with Epic Games in 2022 for $245 million after it found that the game employed “dark patterns”—a phrase used to refer to manipulative design techniques—to induce users, especially children, to make unwanted purchases within the game. These were accidental clicks and misleading menus that made it easy to purchase digital material without express consent.
In December of 2024, the FTC sent out more than $72 million in refunds to over 629,000 consumers, with the typical qualifying consumer receiving approximately $114. The newly issued $126 million payment pushes the refund total nearly to $200 million.
Refund recipients will get their money through their original payment method—PayPal or check. PayPal recipients have only 30 days after receipt to cash out their amounts, while checks are redeemable within 90 days.
For individuals who were overdue for the previous refund deadline, the FTC reopened the process of submitting claims. The deadline to file is now July 9, 2025. Claimants must file their claim under an Epic Games ID or the first claim number.
The FTC still safeguards consumers, particularly children, in virtual gaming societies. This case offers not just restitution but precedent in the way digital communities handle transactions.
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