In December of last year, the FTC issued a first round of payments in a 2022 settlement that required Fortnite maker Epic Games to refund $245 million to players. Now, the Commission is re-opening claims, with $126 million up for grabs. Even if you have to split that, the average sum for each impacted user in the last round of payments was $114, so this isn’t small potatoes. Here’s how to get your piece of the pie.
What did Epic Games do?
First, some history. Essentially, this all comes down to confusing UI. In 2022, after a legal battle with the Federal Trade Commission, Epic Games agreed to pay a total of $520 million in relief for an alleged violation of COPPA, or the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. The FTC accused the company of using “dark patterns” to trick users, especially children, into buying unwanted in-game items. These included button placements that might cause a user to accidentally buy an item they only intended to preview, or to accidentally click a hidden buy button while the game was loading. As a result, Epic agreed to adjust the game’s design to address these issues, as well as pay $275 million in penalties and $245 in refunds to players. It’s that latter sum that we’re concerned with today.
Who is eligible for a payment?
Even if you don’t play Fortnite yourself, you could be eligible for a payment. According to the FTC, any of the following groups of people can file a claim for their share of the settlement:
-
If you were charged in-game Fortnite currency for items you didn’t want between January 2017 and September 2022.
-
If your child made Fortnite charges for you without your knowledge between January 2017 and September 2022.
-
If your Fortnite account was locked between January 2017 and September 2022 following a complaint about wrongful charges.
Do I need to file a claim?
If you have not yet filed a claim, now is your chance. However, if you already filed before the previous deadline of February 14, no action is required on your part. Alongside opening up space for new claims, the FTC also announced that its second round of payments is already underway, with just under 970,000 checks or digital payments currently heading out to those who already filed a valid claim.
How do I file a claim?
To file a claim for the next round of payments, simply visit this page on the FTC site and click the Apply for a Refund button before the new deadline of July 9. You’ll need to be over 18 and supply your claim number or Epic Account ID, and then simply fill out if you would like to be paid via check or Paypal. If you already field a claim following the prior cutoff of Feb. 14, you don’t need to do anything right now—that claim will be applied to the next round of payments automatically. If you’re under 18, the FTC says a parent or guardian can file a claim on your behalf.
What do you think so far?
When can I expect my payment?
The FTC says the next round of payments should go out in 2026, after the Commission has reviewed and validated all claims. Checks will need to be cashed within 90 days, while PayPal payments will need to be accepted within 30 days.
Any questions can be sent to [email protected] or asked directly via 1-833-915-0880.
