Summary
- Epic Games refunds nearly $200 million following FTC’s second distribution amounting to $126 million for unwanted purchases.
- They reopened the claims process until July 9, 2025, for eligible U.S. players who initially missed the deadline to file for compensation.
- This case established new gaming industry billing practices and consumer protection, especially on children’s online safety.
A new round of refunds opens for Fortnite players in accordance with their settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Epic Games are refunding Fortnite players who were charged for unwanted purchases, amounting to $126 million. So, here’s what you need to know about the ongoing FTC Fortnite refund issue.
How Did The Issue Start
The issue goes way back to 2022 after Epic Games and FTC reached a landmark settlement regarding Fortnite purchases. They agreed to pay $520 million in total penalties over the allegations raised against them. Eventually, this case changed how the gaming industry approaches consumer protection.
They reached settlement after proving Epic Games committed two major violations. First, the studio violated the COPPA or Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. It led to a huge penalty of $275 million, following the privacy violations against minors.
Second, the company allegedly used “dark patterns,” or deceptive designs, tricking users into making unintended purchases. Based on FTC, these patterns include confusing interface design, and unclear purchase confirmations alongside easy billing practices.
Also, the billing became an issue as it made the transaction convenient even for children to access, accidentally spending money on in-game items. Further, it brought an additional $245 million settlement, refunding their consumers.
Second Wave Refunds Ongoing
Now, the FTC is on its second round of issuing refunds, distributing more than $126 million. They sent individual payments on June 25-26, 2025, covering 969,173 transactions. Definitely, the numbers increased from the first wave during December 2024 which only amounts to $72 million.
In this refunding, recipients won’t need to worry about receiving it through virtual currency or account credits. The FTC actually issues real money through physical checks or PayPal payments, depending on their choices. The recipient will select their preferred payment method during the claims process.
If you choose checks, you have 90 days to cash the refunds before their validity expires. On the other hand, PayPal recipients should redeem their payments within 30 days. Overall, the combined refund nears $200 million, making it one of the biggest consumer refund programs in the gaming industry.
Second Chance for Eligible Players
This second wave of the claims process is huge for users who missed the first round of refund distribution. The FTC reopened filing for claims until July 9, giving eligible consumers time to submit. They assumed this extension was enough for users to process their claims and get their refunds.
If you happen to make unwanted purchases between January 2017 and September 2022, you may opt to claim a refund. Here are some of the eligibility requirements of FTC and Fortnite for the process:
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- Must be U.S resident
- At least 18 years of age
However, parents or guardians can file claims on behalf of younger players affected by Epic’s billing practices. Moreover, they can easily complete the process by going straight to the FTC site.
Also, keep in mind that FTC never requires you to pay fees or your personal account information to process refunds. If you happen to receive requests for such information, treat it as a potential scam. You may also contact the official refund administrator if you happen to have questions about payments at [email protected].
Final Thoughts
That’s everything you need to know about the ongoing FTC Fortnite refund issue. If you happen to make an unauthorized purchase from 2017 to 2022, then you may file for your refund claims. Also, make sure you are a U.S. resident and at least 18 years old to be eligible for the refund program. However, minors may ask their guardian or parent to help them process their claims.
Writer’s Recommendations
Hi there, it’s Stal! If you loved that article, make sure to check out these other articles I’ve written just for you. See you there!
