Epic Games pays $245 million in refunds for deceptive Fortnite purchases

In late June 2025, the Federal Trade Commission announced that Fortnite players would receive significant settlement refunds after being misled into making unauthorized in-game purchases. This case, which has garnered attention throughout the gaming community, revolves around claims made against Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite, for employing confusing design choices that tricked roughly 37 million players into making unwanted purchases. Complaints highlighted that users were charged while navigating the game's interface, suggesting that many consumers had no intention of completing such transactions. To remedy the situation, federal regulators revealed that they would be distributing over $126 million to those impacted, with payments expected to arrive between June 25 and June 26, 2025. This latest distribution is part of a broader settlement agreement in which Epic Games ultimately agreed to pay $520 million in fines and penalties. Previous efforts in December 2024 saw the refund of over $72 million to more than 629,000 players who reported similar issues. The total amount of refunds issued has now reached nearly $200 million as a result of ongoing efforts to rectify these deceptive practices. Many of the participants in these refunds include parents and guardians who found their children charged without proper consent. The FTC stressed that the refund process remains accessible for players, with the application deadline extended until July 9, 2025. Eligible applicants must provide their Epic Account ID and a claim number, which can be obtained from the FTC. They emphasized that no payment or sensitive account information is required to claim a refund. The FTC initially launched its investigation based on consumer complaints regarding in-game purchases that occurred without prior user agreement, which ultimately led to both the significant settlements and ongoing vigilance over gaming companies in the future. This case raises broader questions about consumer protection in the gaming industry as the technology becomes increasingly intertwined with financial transactions, making it essential for developers like Epic Games to ensure their practices align with fair and transparent billing standards.