Good news for many Fortnite players and parents: you may be eligible for a refund from Epic Games as part of a significant settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). But time is running out – the deadline to file a claim is fast approaching!
If you think you might be owed money, here’s what you need to know about the Epic Games settlement and how to submit your claim before the July 9 deadline.
Why is Epic Games Issuing Refunds?
The refunds stem from a $245 million settlement Epic Games reached with the FTC in 2022. This marked the largest refund amount the FTC had ever secured in a gaming-related case at the time.
The settlement resolved FTC allegations that Epic Games used “deceptive practices” – often referred to as “dark patterns” – within Fortnite to trick players, including children, into making unwanted purchases. The FTC claimed these tactics made it easy for players to buy items unintentionally, sometimes with a single button press when trying to preview content or even waking the game from sleep mode. Additionally, Epic was accused of locking accounts of players who disputed these unauthorized charges, causing them to lose access to purchased content.
Who is Eligible for a Fortnite Refund?
The FTC is administering the refunds and has reopened the claims process for those who haven’t yet applied. According to the FTC, you may be eligible for a refund if one of the following applies to you and occurred between January 2017 and September 2022:
You were charged in-game currency for items you did not intend to purchase.
Your child made charges to your credit card without your knowledge (specifically between January 2017 and November 2018).
Your Fortnite account was locked after you complained to your credit card company about wrongful charges.
It’s important to note the eligibility dates for each category.
How to File Your Claim Before the July 9 Deadline
If you believe you meet the eligibility criteria, you must submit a claim form online through the FTC’s dedicated website. The official deadline for filing a new claim is July 9, 2024.
Visit the official FTC settlement website: Search for “FTC Fortnite refund” or visit the specific URL provided by the FTC for the settlement claims process.
Be prepared: You may need details related to your Epic Account ID or previous purchase history.
Age requirement: You must be at least 18 years old to complete the claim form. If the eligible player is under 18, a parent or legal guardian must fill out the form on their behalf, using the parent’s or guardian’s name and contact information.
Players who previously filed a valid claim by the original deadline (which varied but included dates like February 14, 2024) generally do not need to take further action, especially if they were part of the groups receiving payments being sent out this week (late June 2024).
When Will You Receive Your Refund?
The FTC has already distributed significant amounts from the settlement. A first round of payments totaling over $72 million went out in December 2023. In late June 2024, the FTC announced it was sending another round of payments totaling over $126 million to nearly one million players who had already filed valid claims by previous deadlines.
For claims submitted by the new July 9, 2024, deadline, payments are not expected immediately. The FTC anticipates reviewing and validating these new claims and expects to send additional payments in 2026.
Refunds will be distributed via check or PayPal payment, depending on the method you select when filing your claim. The exact amount each eligible person receives will vary based on factors like the number of total valid claims filed and individual purchase history. Based on previous distributions, the average refund amount has been around $114, but this is not a guaranteed amount for future payments.
Need More Help?
If you have questions about filing a claim or need assistance, you can contact the settlement administrator. The FTC website should provide contact details, which typically include a toll-free phone number (such as 1-833-915-0880 seen in previous information) and an email address (like admin@fortniterefund.com).
Don’t miss your chance to claim a potential refund from the Epic Games Fortnite settlement. Mark your calendar and file your claim by the July 9 deadline!
