If you’re a Fortnite addict, and you got charged for an unwanted in-game item, and you filed the right paperwork, you might be getting a check in the mail soon. The money is coming from the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) after collecting a huge $520 million fine from developer Epic. According to the FTC, it’s sending out over 600,000 individual payments in recompense.
The total refund heading out to gamers is $72 million so far, which is only about a third of the total $245 million refund Epic has agreed to pay (on top of $275 million in other damages). Epic is getting an epic dramatic regulatory smack because it “unlawfully charged players for unwanted purchases, let children rack up unauthorized charges without their parents’ permission, and blocked some users who disputed wrongful charges from accessing their purchased content.”
Even with only a portion of the payout spread among so many claims, it’s a pretty big chunk of change, averaging an impressive $114.40 per payment via check or PayPal. (Individual payments might vary.) The payments sent out thus far are for claims made via the Fortnite refund form before October 8th of this year. Those who filed later will get their payout in the future, if the FTC determines that it’s warranted.
Want to get in on this? You’re eligible for a potential payout if you’re a US resident who was either A) charged Fortnite in-game currency for items you didn’t want between January 2017 and September 2022, B) your child paid real money in Fortnite without your knowledge between January 2017 and November 2018, and/or C) Epic locked your account after you complained to your credit card company for charges made between January 2017 to September 2022. You can submit a claim to the FTC’s form until January 10th, 2025.
The FTC’s fine for Epic’s violations of COPPA rules in 2022 totaled just over half a billion dollars, the biggest ever for any FTC violation. If you’re wondering, Epic’s revenue that year was $5.5 billion. It’s estimated that $4.4 billion of that came from Fortnite.
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he's the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop "battlestation" in his off hours. Michael's previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he's covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he's always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.