The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced on Wednesday, June 25, that it is sending more than $126 million in refunds to Fortnite players who were charged for unwanted purchases while playing the game.
The agency also confirmed that it is reopening the claims process for Fortnite players — or their parents or guardians — related to the FTC’s 2023 settlement with Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite.
Epic Games Agrees to Pay $245 Million Settlement
Epic Games had previously agreed to pay $245 million to settle the FTC’s allegations that it used “deceptive practices” to trick players into making purchases they didn’t intend to.
Refund Timeline & Distribution
The first round of refunds began in December 2024, when the FTC sent more than 629,000 payments totaling $72 million.
The latest round includes nearly 970,000 checks and PayPal payments to players who previously filed a valid claim.
“Today’s announcement brings the total amount of refunds the FTC has issued to consumers related to Epic’s deceptive billing practices to nearly $200 million,” the FTC said in a June 25 news release.
Payment Instructions
Consumers selected their preferred payment method when filing their claim.
Check recipients should cash them within 90 days.
PayPal recipients should redeem their payment within 30 days.
Haven’t Filed a Claim Yet?
Eligible consumers still have time. You must submit a claim by July 9, 2025 at
👉 www.ftc.gov/fortnite
FTC: Epic Games ‘Tricked’ Players into Unwanted Charges
Fortnite, widely known for its Battle Royale mode, is free to play but relies heavily on in-game purchases (microtransactions) like:
Costumes
Dance moves
Limited-time experiences
While microtransactions are standard in modern games, the FTC alleges Epic used “dark patterns” — manipulative design tactics that:
Concealed in-game purchases
Allowed unauthorized charges, especially by children
Enabled accidental purchases with a single button press (e.g., waking the game from sleep mode or previewing an item)
According to the FTC complaint (covering 2017 to 2022), players of all ages were unknowingly charged.
Account Lockouts
The FTC also accused Epic of:
Locking users out of their accounts after they disputed unauthorized charges
Causing customers to lose access to previously purchased content
Settlement: Largest Refund in Gaming History
Under a proposed administrative order, Epic Games agreed to pay $245 million, marking the largest refund amount in a gaming case in FTC history.
The settlement was reached in December 2022 and the funds are now being disbursed to affected consumers.
