Photo credit: dotesports.com
Payments are finally being processed for Fortnite players following a settlement reached between the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Epic Games nearly two years ago.
The settlement, which involved several hundred million dollars, stemmed from allegations that Epic Games employed deceptive design strategies, referred to as “dark patterns,” to persuade users into making unintended purchases. Additionally, it was claimed that the company allowed children to accumulate unauthorized charges without needing parental consent, and restricted access to purchased content for users who disputed these charges. The FTC recently announced it was initiating the distribution of payments from this settlement, targeting approximately 630,000 affected players. About half of these refunds will be sent via PayPal, while the remaining portion will be issued as physical checks.
The FTC is set to deliver a total of over $72 million in refunds to consumers misled by Epic Games into making unwanted purchases. The average individual refund is estimated to be around $114. Alongside monetary compensation, the FTC mandated that Epic Games enhance default privacy settings for younger users, including disabling text and voice chat by default – a move described as a “first-of-its-kind provision.”
This year has been challenging for the Fortnite developer, with similar legal issues and fines imposed in jurisdictions like the Netherlands. These rulings convey a significant message to game developers and publishers catering to a younger demographic: deceptive practices that lead to unintended purchases will invoke serious repercussions.
Given the substantial revenue generated by Fortnite—which recently achieved record earnings—it is likely that this settlement represents a setback for Epic Games, yet it probably won’t hinder upcoming developments for the game, including plans for a new first-person shooter mode and major updates for LEGO Fortnite.
For players and parents impacted by this lawsuit who have sought refunds via the FTC’s dedicated website, this holiday season may bring some unexpected financial relief.
Source
dotesports.com