FTC Refund for Fortnite Players Reaches $200M!
Fortnite game on a smartphone Joshua Hoehne/Unsplash

The ongoing refund programme related to the Fortnite settlement, agreed by Epic Games in 2023, has now reached nearly £157 million ($200 million), according to the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC). With the remaining funds shrinking, the agency has urged eligible players to file their claims as soon as possible.

How Much Money Remains?

On 25 June, the FTC announced that it had distributed more than £92 million ($126 million) in refunds to Fortnite players affected by unwanted or unauthorised in-game purchases. Payments are being issued via cheque or PayPal, depending on the claimant's selected method.

In total, the agency has now disbursed close to £157 million ($200 million) of the £193 million ($245 million) originally allocated under the settlement agreement. That leaves roughly £36 million ($45 million) still available for distribution.

With the remaining budget quickly depleting, the FTC is encouraging eligible users to file before the final deadline on 9 July 2025.

Who Can File a Claim?

The FTC partnered with news outlet TODAY to outline the eligibility requirements. You may qualify for a refund if any of the following conditions apply:

  • You or your child were charged in-game currency for items in Fortnite that were not wanted, between January 2017 and September 2022
  • Your child used your credit card without permission to make purchases during that period
  • Your or your child's Epic Games account was banned after you raised a dispute over unauthorised charges

If you meet any of these criteria, you are entitled to file a claim and request your portion of the multi-million-pound settlement. To do so, you will need either your claim number (provided by the FTC) or your Epic Games account ID.

To find your Epic Games account ID, follow these steps:

  1. Visit www.epicgames.com
  2. Click 'Sign In' and log into your account
  3. Hover over your username and select 'Account'
  4. Your Epic account ID will appear in the 'Account Info' section

Background: What Prompted the Lawsuit?

The FTC filed a lawsuit against Epic Games in 2022, accusing the company of breaching the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Officials claimed that Epic used deceptive interface designs, known as 'dark patterns', to trick users—particularly children—into making purchases unintentionally.

The FTC alleged that buttons for purchasing items were placed where users could easily click them by mistake. Additional concerns were raised about hidden purchase prompts appearing during loading screens.

To resolve the case, Epic Games agreed to pay £379 million ($520 million), consisting of £193 million ($245 million) in player refunds and £186 million ($275 million) in civil penalties.

The FTC confirmed that the next round of payments will be made in 2026. Those who receive refunds by cheque must cash them within 90 days, while PayPal recipients must accept the payment within 30 days.

Writer's pick