The Federal Trade Commission has ordered Fortnite’s creator, Epic Games, to pay $245 million in reimbursements to gamers (FTC). The FTC found that Epic Games’ in-game button layout was too complicated, leading some gamers to make in-app payments they hadn’t intended to. The total amount of money that will need to be returned to gamers from Epic Games is $245 million.
Players reportedly spent money they didn’t want to in Fortnite because of the game’s counterintuitive and confusing button arrangement. They also made it simple for kids to buy anything in Fortnite without their parents’ permission. Thus, the FTC has mandated that Epic Games recompense those who were wronged.
When the process for applying for refunds opens, people who are eligible can access it through a specific website. Fortnite players who have been charged for unwanted in-game items between January 2017 and September 2022, Fortnite players whose accounts were locked after disputing unauthorized charges with their credit card companies, and parents whose children made an unauthorized purchase in the Epic Games Store between January 2017 and November 2018 are all eligible for refunds.
The FTC has ordered Epic Games to issue refunds to customers and also prohibit the company from charging customers in the future via dark patterns or without express permission. A customer who disputes an illegal charge cannot have access to their account for any reason.
The FTC’s interest in consumer safety prompted the ruling in the gaming sector. But, the FTC’s interpretation of the regulations governing this business has changed, and the old ways of doing things are no longer acceptable. Epic Games has agreed to the terms and is committed to making adjustments to their ecosystem to better satisfy the needs of players and regulators.
