Parents Have Two More Weeks to Claim FTC Refunds from Fortnite
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors
Parents and Fortnite players have two more weeks to apply for a refund from Fortnite maker Epic Games, after the gaming giant was alleged to be violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by the FTC and subsequently entered into a settlement.
Epic Games was accused by the FTC of "unlawfully [charging] players for unwanted purchases, [letting] children rack up unauthorized charges without their parents' permission," and more.
The company agreed to pay a penalty of $520 million in 2022, and $245 million of that money is being used to refund some of those purchases to players in the US.
Players engaging in combat in a promotional screenshot for Fortnite.
Players engaging in combat in a promotional screenshot for Fortnite.
Epic Games
The first round of payouts came last year, with $72 million being paid out initially, rising to $126 million refunded to 969,173 players in the second round, which is set to pay out soon.
Affected players can apply for a third round of payments, set to be paid out later this year and early next year, but they need to act quickly, as applications close on July 9, 2025.
Who's Eligible for a Fortnite Refund?
In order to be eligible for a Fortnite refund, you need to meet one or more of the following requirements:
You were charged in-game currency for items you didn't want between January 2017 and September 2022
Your child made charges to your credit card without your knowledge between January 2017 and November 2018
Your account was locked between January 2017 and September 2022 after you complained to your credit card company about wrongful charges
You also need to be a resident of the US, and to complete a claim form you need to be at least 18 years of age. Players under 18 are encouraged to get a parent or guardian to complete a claim for them.
How to Apply for a Fortnite Refund
To apply for a Fortnite refund, double check you meet the eligibility requirements above. You'll then need to go to the Fortnite Refund File a Claim website, and enter your information, including a claim number if you've received one, or your Epic Account ID.
To find your Epic Account ID, you can follow the steps on the Epic Games website, which tells you how to find your Epic Account ID on the web, in-game in Fortnite, Fall Guys, or Rocket League, or in the Epic Games launcher files.
You must complete this claim by July 9, 2025, otherwise you risk missing out on a refund.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNET
18 hours ago
- CNET
It's Not Too Late to Claim a Part of Fortnite's $245 Million Settlement. Learn How to File
The FTC has sent almost 1.6 million payments already to Fortnite gamers. Epic Games It's been a good week for Fortnite gamers who felt cheated by accidental in-game purchases. The Federal Trade Commission announced it was distributing $126 million in compensation to 969,173 claimants this week, and it also extended the time to file a claim -- the process had previously ended on Jan. 10, 2025. Games who were charged by Fortnite for unwanted purchases between January 2017 and September 2022 who haven't already filed now have until July 9, 2025, to participate in the settlement by filing a claim. The FTC says that since December, 629,344 payments went out to players who made those in-game purchases and who filed a valid claim by Oct. 8, 2024. The average payout was about $114 per customer and totaled $72 million. In the settlement, the FTC concluded that Epic Games used design tricks known as dark patterns to make in-game sales. "Fortnite's counterintuitive, inconsistent, and confusing button configuration led players to incur unwanted charges based on the press of a single button," the agency said in its March 2023 announcement. The FTC has more money left, so it's extending the claim deadline The FTC apparently still has about $47 million left to distribute from the settlement. On June 25, the agency posted a notice alerting those who haven't yet filed that they now have until July 9, 2025, to submit a claim at The Fortnite settlement applies to anyone who was charged for in-game currency for items they did not want to purchase between January 2017 and September 2022; if a child made credit card charges without a parent's knowledge between January 2017 and November 2018; or if an account was locked after a charge was disputed between January 2017 and September 2022. Eligible Fortnite claims will be paid via check or PayPal. Screenshot by CNET Those filing must be 18 or older; minors can ask a parent or guardian to complete the form on their behalf. One CNET staffer received his PayPal deposit (for $95.98) from a Fortnite claim in January, a pleasant surprise since he had forgotten about the settlement. Epic's Fortnite is wildly popular, especially with teens; in one game event last year, 44.7 million players participated on a single day. But the free-to-play game relies on players buying Battle Passes and other items with V-Bucks, the in-game currency. Like other games-as-platforms that have a large audience of young people, such as Roblox, Fortnite has evolved on how to make its game secure for young people and to ensure that payments aren't being generated without the player's authorization. How can I file a Fortnite claim? When you visit the FTC's Epic Games/Fortnite page to file a claim, you will be asked if you received a notification email from the FTC with a claim number. If you have a claim number, select Yes, click Next, then provide your claim number and solve a CAPTCHA test to submit your claim. If you didn't receive a notification or can no longer find your claim number, you can apply for a Fortnite claim using your Epic account ID. If you're not sure of your Epic account ID, follow these steps from the Epic Games support page. Epic Games introduced LegoFortnite in December 2023. Epic Games When and how will I receive my money from the FTC? Eligible claims submitted by Oct. 8, 2024, and January have already started receiving payments. The FTC has not specified when money for new claims filed by July 9 will be distributed. During the claims process on the FTC site, you will be able to specify whether you'd like to be paid with a check or via PayPal. Checks must be cashed within 90 days, and PayPal payments must be accepted within 30 days. For questions about your payment, you can call a claims support hotline at 1-800-915-0880 or email admin@ Will filing a claim against Epic Games affect my Fortnite account? According to the FTC, filing a claim will not affect the status of a player's Fortnite account. For more information, see the FTC's Fortnite refunds FAQ.
The Verge
19 hours ago
- The Verge
The FTC has reopened claims for Fortnite settlement refunds: here's how you can submit one
Eligible Fortnite players who felt bamboozled into making unwanted purchases have been given a second chance to request a refund. The Federal Trade Commission has reopened applications to receive refunds from the $245 million settlement that Epic Games reached with the agency until July 9th, after previously closing requests in February. The agreement was announced in 2022 as part of a broader $520 million FTC settlement over privacy violations and alleged use of design tricks that duped players into accidentally buying in-game items. The first wave of 629,344 refunds was issued in December 2024, with the FTC now announcing that it sent out 969,173 new payments on Wednesday and Thursday, bringing the total amount of refunds to nearly $200 million. You can apply to receive a refund by visiting Specific details about eligibility are also available on the site, but the FTC says you can submit a claim if: You were charged in-game currency for items you didn't want between January 2017 and September 2022. Your child made charges to your credit card without your knowledge between January 2017 and November 2018. Your account was locked between January 2017 and September 2022 after you complained to your credit card company about wrongful charges. Applications are limited to Fortnite players in the US who are aged 18 or over, otherwise, the FTC says a parent must apply on your behalf. The FTC says it expects additional payments to be sent out in 2026 'after we have reviewed and validated all claims.'
CNET
2 days ago
- CNET
Fortnite Refunds: Epic Games Sends $245M to Players Following FTC Settlement
Almost 1.6 million payments have already been issued from the FTC to Fortnite gamers. Epic Games If you're one of the Fortnite gamers who were deceived by Epic Games' in-game purchase process, but you missed the October and January deadlines to file for compensation from a settlement, you have another chance. The Federal Trade Commission has reopened the process for eligible claimants to get money back in the $245 million settlement related to the use of illegal tactics that boosted in-game sales. Fortnite players charged for unwanted purchases between January 2017 and September 2022 who haven't already filed now have until July 9, 2025, to participate in the settlement by filing a claim. The FTC says that since December, 629,344 payments went out to players who made those in-game purchases and who filed a valid claim by Oct. 8, 2024. The average payout was about $114 per customer and totaled $72 million. Another round of settlement money is being distributed June 25 and June 26 via checks and PayPal on 969,173 claims for another $126 million in payouts, the FTC says. In the settlement, the FTC concluded that Epic Games used design tricks known as dark patterns to make in-game sales. "Fortnite's counterintuitive, inconsistent, and confusing button configuration led players to incur unwanted charges based on the press of a single button," the agency said in its March 2023 announcement. What's changed? The FTC apparently still has about $47 million left to distribute from the settlement. On June 25, the agency posted a notice alerting those who haven't yet filed that they now have until July 9, 2025, to submit a claim at The Fortnite settlement applies to anyone who was charged for in-game currency for items they did not want to purchase between January 2017 and September 2022; if a child made credit card charges without a parent's knowledge between January 2017 and November 2018; or if an account was locked after a charge was disputed between January 2017 and September 2022. Eligible Fortnite claims will be paid via check or PayPal. Screenshot by CNET Those filing must be 18 or older; minors can ask a parent or guardian to complete the form on their behalf. One CNET staffer received his PayPal deposit (for $95.98) from a Fortnite claim in January, a pleasant surprise since he had forgotten about the settlement. Epic's Fortnite is wildly popular, especially with teens; in one game event last year, 44.7 million players participated on a single day. But the free-to-play game relies on players buying Battle Passes and other items with V-Bucks, the in-game currency. Like other games-as-platforms that have a large audience of young people, such as Roblox, Fortnite has evolved on how to make its game secure for young people and to ensure that payments aren't being generated without the player's authorization. How can I file a Fortnite claim? When you visit the FTC's Epic Games/Fortnite page to file a claim, you will be asked if you received a notification email from the FTC with a claim number. If you have a claim number, select Yes, click Next, then provide your claim number and solve a CAPTCHA test to submit your claim. If you didn't receive a notification or can no longer find your claim number, you can apply for a Fortnite claim using your Epic account ID. If you're not sure of your Epic account ID, follow these steps from the Epic Games support page. Epic Games introduced LegoFortnite in December 2023. Epic Games When and how will I receive my money from the FTC? Eligible claims submitted by Oct. 8, 2024, and January have already started receiving payments. The FTC has not specified when money for new claims filed by July 9 will be distributed. During the claims process on the FTC site, you will be able to specify whether you'd like to be paid with a check or via PayPal. Checks must be cashed within 90 days, and PayPal payments must be accepted within 30 days. For questions about your payment, you can call a claims support hotline at 1-800-915-0880 or email admin@ Will filing a claim against Epic Games affect my Fortnite account? According to the FTC, filing a claim will not affect the status of a player's Fortnite account. For more information, see the FTC's Fortnite refunds FAQ.
