Featured Image Credit: Epic Games
Topics: Gaming, Technology
Niamh Shackleton
Epic Games has agreed to pay out a staggering $245 million in compensation, with 37 million people expected to claim part of the large sum.
Epic Games is the developer of popular game Fortnite, which has - on average - 239 million players each month.
But the software developer found itself in hot water of late after being accused of 'tricking' people into making purchases on the game.
As to what playing Fortnite entails, the multiplayer shooter game sees up to 100 people meet on a virtual island and battle it out to be the champion.
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The game is popular with all ages - but there's been complaints surrounding its younger players in particular, as some parents were forced to cough up the cash after their kids made purchases on the game without realising, or without their mum or dad's permission.
Fortnite itself, which has been labelled as 'highly addictive', is actually free to play, but there are several in-game purchases gamers can make, such as character skins.
With this in mind, Epic Games was accused of violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and agreed in December 2022 to pay the multimillion dollar settlement as a consequence, totalling $520 million.
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The game was also accused of using manipulative online practices, called 'dark patterns', to trick millions players of all ages into making unwanted purchases.
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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said in a news release: "The company also made it easy for children to rack up charges without parental consent and locked the accounts of consumers who disputed unauthorized charges with their credit card companies."
Part of the $520 million sum covers a $275 million fine on how Fortnite generates information about its users, including those aged 13 and under. It is the largest fine ever given out by the FTC for breaking a rule.
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The remainder will go towards refunding its customers, who can now claim for a chunk of the $245 million cash pot.
If you think you're owed money, there are several ways in which you can claim.
The first step is to check your email as Fortnite has reportedly started sending messages to its users about possibly claiming a refund.
Or, you can go direct to the FTC's website where a page has been set up dedicated to Fortnite refunds.
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Claims will take four weeks to complete, and people have until January 17, 2024, to make a submission. You have to be over the age of 18, however.
As well as being over 18, to be eligible for the refund, a gamer's unwanted purchase must have been made between January 2017 and September 2022.
Elsewhere, parents whose children used their credit card without their permission have to prove their money was spent on the game between January 2017 and November 2018.
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Others can file a claim if their accounts were locked between January 2017 and September 2022 after complaining to their credit card company about the wrongful charges.
It currently remains unclear how much money claimants will receive.
UNILAD have contacted Epic Games for comment.