In a significant move to address consumer protection, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has begun the distribution of over $72 million in refunds to Fortnite players affected by deceptive in-game purchase designs. This first round of restitution stems from a hefty $245 million settlement with Fortnite’s creator, Epic Games, penalized for what the FTC described as a “counterintuitive, inconsistent, and confusing button configuration” that misled players into making unintentional purchases.
A Crackdown on Dark Patterns
The FTC’s actions reflect a broader crackdown on “dark patterns,” deceptive design techniques that manipulate users into making purchases or giving up their personal information. These tactics have recently come under scrutiny, with the FTC tightening regulations and pursuing companies that exploit consumer confusion for profit. In Epic Games’ case, the misleading designs were particularly egregious, leading to accidental charges when players simply attempted to preview items or woke the game from sleep mode. This resulted in numerous unauthorized charges, predominantly affecting children and occurring without parental consent.
Consumer Protection Takes Center Stage
As a part of the settlement reached in March 2023, Epic Games agreed to significant changes in its operational practices. The company must now eliminate these deceptive digital design tricks and secure explicit consent before processing any in-game purchases. Moreover, Epic is prohibited from locking out consumers who dispute charges, ensuring greater protection for digital goods and service transactions.
What Consumers Need to Know
With the distribution of $72 million in refunds now underway, affected consumers are seeing direct impacts. The FTC has issued 629,344 payments, divided equally between PayPal transfers and mailed checks. Recipients are advised to accept PayPal payments within 30 days and cash any checks within 90 days to avoid potential issues.
This payout represents just the initial phase of refunds, with more scheduled to follow as part of the ongoing settlement provisions. Fortnite players who previously felt the sting of unauthorized purchases now have a pathway to reclaim their funds and a reminder of the importance of vigilance in digital transactions. For parents and players alike, this settlement is a critical acknowledgement of the need for clearer consumer interactions in the gaming world and a victory for those advocating against deceptive business practices in digital platforms.
