If you or your kids are Fortnite players in the US, you may be eligible for a refund as part of a legal settlement between Epic Games and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Players and parents whose kids have made unintentional payments for unwanted items within Fortnite can now apply for compensation.
The US regulators just began notifying more than 37 million users and will continue contacting people over the next month to ensure everyone eligible will receive their compensation. Players will be able to claim their refund until January 2024.
Fortnite to Refund Players for Unwanted Purchases
In 2022, the US regulators accused Fortnite parent company Epic Games of tricking users of all ages into purchasing unwanted items and locking their accounts after they complained to their bank about wrongful charges.
Epic Games was accused of using “deceptive interfaces” that led to adult players making unintentional purchases and children purchasing items without their parents’ knowledge or permission. Furthermore, the FTC blamed Epic for breaching people’s and children’s privacy.
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The company agreed to settle the FTC’s allegations by paying a total of $520 million. $245 million will be paid as compensation to affected users, while the rest ($275 million) will be paid as a fine to the FTC due to concerns related to children’s privacy. Epic Games is said to have collected data on players under 13 years of age without their parents’ knowledge or consent.
The FTC began sending emails to over 37 million Fortnite players on September 19 to notify them that they can apply for a refund. More emails will be sent out for one month, and affected users will be able to apply for compensation until January 17, 2024.
How to Apply for a Refund
As of now, only Fortnite players and their parents located in the US are eligible to apply for compensation. You will be able to claim a refund if any of the following applies to you:
- You were charged for Fortnite items you didn’t want between January 2017 and September 2022.
- Your child made a purchase you didn’t know about or didn’t allow between January 2017 and November 2018.
- Your Fortnite account was blocked between January 2017 and September 2022 after complaining to your bank or credit card company about wrongful charges.
The FTC will be distributing the $245 million in refunds to Fortnite users at its discretion. As stated in the settlement, payments made for in-game items such as outfits and Fortnite’s virtual currency “V-Bucks” will be eligible for refunds.
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Ever since the FTC’s allegations, Epic Games has made a slew of changes to Fortnite’s UI, systems, and data policies to address the concerns and prevent such occurrences from happening in the future.
Players now have to re-confirm their purchase via a “hold-to-purchase mechanic” to make payments in the game. Epic Games has also implemented various safeguards aimed at ensuring children’s privacy and preventing them from making payments without their parents’ permission.
The company has listed its measurements to ensure children and consumer protection on its website.
Have you made any accidental purchases in Fortnite, or have your kids gone on an in-game shopping spree you were not aware of? Will you be applying for a refund? Let us know in the comments and on our social feeds. We would love to hear about your experience.
Source: Federal Trade Commission
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