Epic Games Paying Out $126 Million in Major Refunds

"Fortnite" is one of the most popular video games of all time, and it's turned developer Epic Games into one of the largest companies on the planet. The free-to-play battle royale game has become a platform and ecosystem of its own, with experiences catered to nearly ever player imaginable.

The game is also available on nearly every major gaming platform, including mobile phones. Millions of active users log on to Fortnite every day, and they could be in line for a payment from Epic in the near future.

The Federal Trade Commission is issuing $126 million worth of refunds to "Fortnite" players as part of a 2023 settlement with Epic Games. The settlement is the result of allegations that the company used "deceptive practices to trick players into making unwanted purchases" within the game.

The settlement was reached after the FTC introduced complaints from parents who noted that their children were charged for items like outfits and battle passes without their consent.

"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 its announcement.

Players who have not filed a formal claim as part of the refund process can still apply until July 9. In order to receive a refund, players will need to provide their Epic account ID as well as a claim number.

In the original complaint, the FTC alleged that Epic used "dark patterns" - intentionally confusing game design that tricked players into purchasing items without their understanding.

"Fortnite’s counterintuitive, inconsistent, and confusing button configuration led players to incur unwanted charges based on the press of a single button," the organization said.

The FTC also says that Epic locked customers' accounts if they disputed unauthorized charges from the game with their credit card companies.

"Fortnite" itself is free to play, but the game includes several in-app purchases like outfits, game items and more. Some items are able to be purchased directly with a corresponding dollar amount, but others must be purchased with "V Bucks," Epic's in-game currency.

We'll see if the settlement induces further change to the game's user experience.

from Men's Journal https://ift.tt/3YNG2Lp