Fortnite Players Set to Get Refunds of Up to 2000 V-Bucks
Fortnite players could be set to get refunds of up to 2,000 V-Bucks, or a cash equivalent, very soon.
Back in December 2022, the FTC ordered Fortnite developer Epic Games to pay roughly $520 million in relief over allegations that the company has violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and used "design tricks" or dark patterns that made millions of players make unwanted purchases.
The bill splits roughly into two orders: $275 million for violating the COPPA Rule and, under a separate order, the company is ordered to pay $245 million to refund players over the dark patterns.
As reported by Sportskeeda, the order was finalized just last week, suggesting that refunds could start to be processed very soon.
FTC finalizes order requiring Fortnite maker Epic Games to pay $245 million for tricking users into making unwanted charges. FTC will use the money to provide refunds to consumers: https://t.co/Mp7JJyRk7y
— FTC (@FTC) March 14, 2023
The refunds will be processed for players in the United States, though it's unclear just how many players have been affected and will be eligible for the refund. Given Fortnite's immense popularity over the last few years, the number is likely to be in the millions.
According the the FTC, in order to be eligible for the refund players must meet the required criteria:
- Parents whose children made an unauthorized credit card purchase in the Epic Games Store between January 2017 and November 2018.
- Fortnite players who were charged currency (V-Bucks) for unwanted in-game items (such as cosmetics, llamas, or battle passes) between January 2017 and September 2022.
- Fortnite players whose accounts were locked between January 2017 and September 2022 after disputing unauthorized charges with their credit card companies.
In response to the FTC order, Epic Games said, "The old status quo for in-game commerce and privacy has changed, and many developer practices should be reconsidered. We share the underlying principles of fairness, transparency and privacy that the FTC enforces, and the practices referenced in the FTC’s complaints are not how Fortnite operates. "
Epic Games has yet to reveal when the refund process for the FTC order will go live.