FTC starts process for Fortnite players tricked into making unauthorized buys

Epic Games has agreed to a $520 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission to provide refunds to Fortnite players who made unintended purchases. A total of $245 million will be set aside for refunds, with more than 37 million players receiving notification via email. The refund process is expected to take up to a month to complete, and affected customers have until January 17, 2024, to submit a claim on the FTC’s website. This settlement marks one of the largest refunds in a gaming-related case, according to the FTC. The agreement comes after allegations that Epic Games employed deceptive tactics, in violation of COPPA, by allowing minors to make unauthorized purchases and by locking the accounts of consumers who contested charges.