Fortnite Players to Get Refunds After Epic Games Settlement with FTC
Epic Games will refund Fortnite players after settling with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The settlement stems from accusations that Epic “tricked” players into making unwanted in-game purchases. Over 600,000 players in the U.S. will receive part of a $72 million refund.
FTC Claims Epic Games Misled Players
The FTC claims that Epic Games’ design misled players. The game’s button layout was confusing and inconsistent. It led users to make unintended purchases, often by pressing a wrong button or waking the game from sleep mode. The FTC argued that many players unknowingly incurred charges.
For example, players might have been charged while trying to preview an item or during a loading screen. The FTC said that this design tricked players into spending money they didn’t mean to.
Refund Process and Amount
The FTC will send refunds to affected players. The total refund is over $72 million, with each player receiving an average of $114. Players will see the refunds in their accounts soon. The full details will be available in the coming weeks.
Epic Games has not commented on the refund process yet. However, as part of the settlement, the company must make significant changes to its game design.
Previous Settlement: $520 Million Payout
This settlement follows an earlier case where Epic Games paid $520 million to settle charges of collecting personal data from children without parental consent. The company changed its privacy policies and adjusted its chat and text functions as part of that settlement.
What’s Next for Fortnite Players?
Players who faced unwanted charges can now expect refunds. This payout is an important step in protecting consumer rights in gaming. Epic Games has been criticized for its confusing design, but Fortnite remains one of the most popular games in the world.
According to Active Player, Fortnite has about 30 million active players daily, despite past legal challenges.
Conclusion
Fortnite players will soon get refunds after Epic Games reached a settlement with the FTC. The $72 million payout aims to address issues caused by the game’s misleading design. This settlement, along with past actions, shows the growing importance of protecting players in the gaming industry.