Epic Games is refunding more than $126 million to nearly one million Fortnite players in the U.S. after a settlement involving unwanted purchases made with the game’s virtual currency, V-Bucks. This is the second round of payments following an earlier payout of $72 million in late 2024.
The refunds come after widespread complaints that players, including many children and teens, were charged for in-game items they did not intend to buy. These items include cosmetic upgrades such as character skins, emotes, back bling, and gear. The problem was linked to design features in Fortnite’s interface that made it easy to make purchases without clear confirmation or any additional verification. Some players also reported that their accounts were locked after they disputed charges with their banks or credit card providers.
Epic Games settled with the Federal Trade Commission in 2022, agreeing to pay $520 million in total. Of that amount, $245 million was set aside specifically to refund players who were affected by the company’s past purchase systems and user interface practices.
In June 2025, the FTC began sending out more than 960,000 refunds through PayPal and by check, depending on user preferences. Refund amounts vary depending on how much a player spent and the circumstances of each case, including whether the purchases were disputed. Many players have reported receiving between $50 and $200, with some higher amounts in cases of repeated or high-value purchases over time.
Players may be eligible for a refund if they were charged for unwanted in-game items between January 2017 and September 2022. Parents can also request refunds if their children made unauthorized purchases between January 2017 and November 2018. Players whose accounts were disabled after a chargeback or payment dispute may qualify as well under the current terms.
To request a refund, players need to file a claim using their Epic Account ID or a claim number provided by email. The deadline to submit claims is July 9. Payments for all valid claims will continue to be issued after that date as processing continues.
In response to the settlement, Epic Games made several changes to Fortnite’s purchasing system. Players now receive clearer prompts before purchases are finalized, and the company has added stronger parental controls. Epic is also no longer allowed to lock users out of their accounts for disputing a charge through their bank.
This refund effort is one of the biggest the video game industry has seen, both in how much money is being returned and how many players are getting paid back. Those who believe they are eligible and have not yet filed a claim are encouraged to do so before the July deadline.
I don’t like having to clean out my own closet. Why clean a virtual one?
Disgusting that they charge and rip consumers off with sneaky tactics and targeting the young in such ways. They knew exactly what they’re doing….all for profits
Interesting!