How Fortnite players can get their share of $126,000,000 refund pot after unwanted purchases scandal
The FTC has reopened compensation claims
A major claim involving Fortnite has been extended by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), leaving the door open for anyone who fits into a specific set of conditions to claim their rightful part of a $126,000,000 refund compensation pot.
Many consider Fortnite to be the genesis of modern gaming's microtransaction-focused business model, as Epic's battle royale was one of the first and by far the biggest to introduced battle passes, consistent character skin collaborations, and a AAA free-to-play model.
This led to significant digital sales for Epic, as millions flocked to the Fortnite store to spend V-Bucks and pick up the latest cosmetic releases, yet this didn't come without its issues.
Many have claimed that they were charged for items that they didn't want, or that their child used their bank account to buy in-game currency without their knowledge, and this lead to a major court case between the FTC and Epic Games.
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As reported by MLive, the Epic Games reached a settlement with the FTC in 2023 worth $245,000,000, opening the door for many consumers to file for compensation if they believe they were incorrectly or without their knowledge charged for digital items.
The first round of refunds was issued in December 2024, issuing around $72,000,000 across 629,344 claims, and the FTC has reopened the process for a second round, giving out a shares of a total $126,000,000 refund pot.
How to claim compensation
Claiming compensation is thankfully a simple process, as all you need to do is head directly to the FTC's Epic Games/Fortnite page, where you will be asked to fill in the required information.
You must be at least 18 in order to file for compensation, and you have to provide either a claim number or your Epic Account ID - presumably the one associated with the incorrect payment that you're claiming for.
When is the deadline for submitting a claim?
This round of compensation closes on July 9, 2025, so make sure to submit before then if you think that you're eligible.
Based on the first round, checks will then be sent out to accounts that have been awarded compensation around 6 months later, and then you have 90 days to cash it.
Who is eligible for compensation?
Not every Fortnite player is able to successfully file a claim though, as you must fit into any of these three specific circumstances in order to receive money in return:
- You were charged in-game currency for items you didn't want betwen January 2017 and September 2022
- Your child made charges to your credit card without your knowledge between January 2017 and November 2018
- Your account was locked between January 2017 and September 2022 after complaining to your credit card company about wrongful charges
Anything outside of those specific circumstances and datas will mean that you're not eligible for a refund.