Home Game Fortnite Players to Get $126 Million in Refunds: How to Claim Yours...

Fortnite Players to Get $126 Million in Refunds: How to Claim Yours This Week

0
10

If you’ve played Fortnite and ended up with unexpected charges, your money might be coming back this week.

The Federal Trade Commission is sending out a massive $126 million in refunds to Fortnite players. This is part of a larger $245 million settlement with Epic Games. The reason? The company was accused of using misleading tactics that led people, especially kids, to make accidental purchases in the game.

This isn’t new news exactly. The settlement was first announced back in December 2022. But now, the real money is starting to reach players. The FTC confirmed it will be sending nearly 970,000 payments by June 25 and 26. That includes both checks in the mail and PayPal transfers.

Why the refunds?

Epic Games got hit with allegations that it tricked users into buying in-game items. Think of accidental clicks, unclear buttons, or purchases made without a parent’s approval. Many of these situations involved minors who didn’t fully understand they were spending real money.

The FTC says Epic’s design pushed users into buying items they didn’t plan to buy. It was especially concerning since a lot of Fortnite’s audience is under 18. Along with this case, Epic was also fined $275 million separately for breaking kids’ online privacy laws.

Who’s getting paid?

Only players who submitted a valid claim during the first round are included in this week’s payments. The first batch of refunds went out last December, totaling over $22 million. Now comes the bigger wave.

Even better news? The FTC has reopened the refund claim process. If you missed the original February 14 deadline, you now have until July 9 to submit your claim.

How to get your refund

To apply, you’ll need either a claim number or your Epic Account ID. If the player is under 18, a parent or guardian has to submit the form.

You can check your eligibility and file your request through the FTC’s official refund website. If you already applied after February 14, you don’t need to do anything else.

Those getting checks should cash them within 90 days. If you’re getting your money through PayPal, you’ve got 30 days to accept it.

It’s not every day a gaming company is ordered to hand out over $100 million. But if Fortnite took your money without your okay, this might be your chance to get it back.