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Are You Missing Out on Epic's $126 Million Fortnite Refund Bonanza?
The Federal Trade Commission just sent out another massive wave of refunds to Fortnite players. I'm talking about $126 million going directly into players' pockets. This isn't small change - we're looking at nearly $130 per person on average.
What Happened With Epic Games
Epic Games got caught using what I call sneaky tricks. The FTC found that Epic was making it way too easy for players to spend money by accident. Picture this: you're just trying to wake up your game or look at a cool item, and boom - you just bought something you never wanted.
The company had to pay a whopping $520 million total. That's not a typo. Out of this massive settlement, $245 million was set aside just for player refunds. Epic agreed to this deal back in 2022 because they were accused of breaking rules about protecting kids online.
How Much Money Are We Talking About
This June 2025 payout brings the total refunds to nearly $200 million. The FTC already sent out $72 million in December 2024 to over 629,000 players. Now they're sending another $126 million to almost 970,000 more players.
Here's what makes this different from other gaming settlements - you get real money, not game credits. Players receive either physical checks or PayPal payments.
The Dark Tricks That Got Epic In Trouble
The FTC called Epic's methods "dark patterns." These are design tricks that confuse players into spending money. Here's what Epic was doing wrong:
- Making players pay with just one accidental button press
- Charging people when they tried to wake the game from sleep mode
- Billing players when they were just trying to preview items
- Locking accounts when players complained about wrong charges
The worst part? Kids were getting charged without their parents knowing. Some families saw surprise charges on their credit cards because children accidentally bought items while playing.
Who Can Get Money Back
You might be eligible for a refund if any of these situations happened to you:
Unwanted purchases: You got charged for in-game items you didn't want between January 2017 and September 2022
Kids' unauthorized spending: Your child made charges to your credit card without permission between January 2017 and November 2018
Account lockouts: Epic locked your account after you complained to your credit card company about wrong charges between January 2017 and September 2022
How To Claim Your Refund
The good news is that the FTC reopened the claims process. You have until July 9, 2025, to file your claim at www.ftc.gov/fortnite[1]. If you're under 18, a parent or guardian needs to file for you.
Important deadlines to remember:
- Cash checks within 90 days of receiving them
- Accept PayPal payments within 30 days
If you already filed a claim after February 14, 2025, you don't need to do anything else. The FTC is still reviewing those claims.
Why This Matters For Gaming
This settlement sends a clear message to game companies. The FTC's action against Epic represents the largest refund in gaming industry history. It shows that companies can't trick players into spending money, especially when kids are involved.
Epic has said they're making changes to prevent these problems in the future. They want to be "at the forefront of consumer protection". Other gaming companies are watching this case closely.
Getting Help With Your Claim
If you have questions about your payment, contact Rust Consulting at 1-833-915-0880 or email [email protected]. Remember, the FTC never asks you to pay money or give account information to get a refund.
This refund program shows that fighting back against unfair business practices works. Nearly 1.6 million players have already received money from this settlement. If you think you're eligible, don't wait - the July 9 deadline will be here before you know it.