Closed to new claimsConsumer / Dark patternsFortnite (Epic Games) $245 Million FTC Refund Settlement
Last updated: July 16, 2026
The Fortnite settlement is a $245 million Federal Trade Commission (FTC) refund program requiring Epic Games — the maker of Fortnite — to repay players who were charged for unwanted in-game purchases. The FTC alleged Epic used "dark patterns" (confusing button layouts) that led players to buy items by accident, let children rack up unauthorized charges on their parents' cards, and locked some users out of their accounts for disputing charges with their bank. The deadline to file a refund claim was July 9, 2025, and it is now closed — the FTC is not accepting new claims. If you filed by that date, you are in line for a payment; you do not need to do anything else.
The FTC has already sent about $200 million to roughly 1.6 million Fortnite players in two rounds — more than $72 million (629,344 payments) in December 2024 and more than $126 million (969,173 payments) in June 2025 — and it says additional payments will go out in 2026 as remaining claims are reviewed and validated. Payments arrive as a PayPal transfer or a mailed check, based on what you chose on your claim form; cash checks within 90 days and redeem PayPal within 30 days. This $245 million consumer-refund fund is separate from the $275 million penalty Epic paid for violating children's-privacy law (COPPA), which went to the U.S. Treasury and is not refunded to players. Questions about a payment go to the refund administrator, Rust Consulting, at 1-833-915-0880.
Key facts
- Refund fund
- $245,000,000 (consumer refunds)
- Claim deadline
- July 9, 2025 (closed)
- Paid so far
- ~$200M to ~1.6 million players
- Payment rounds
- Dec 2024 + June 2025; more in 2026
- How paid
- PayPal or mailed check
- Claim required
- Yes — filed by the closed deadline
- Administrator
- Rust Consulting (FTC)
- Separate penalty
- $275M COPPA penalty (not a refund)
Official settlement administrator: ftc.gov (Fortnite refunds)
Who qualifies
- You were charged in-game currency (V-Bucks) or money for Fortnite items you did not want between January 2017 and September 2022.
- Your child made charges to your credit card in Fortnite without your knowledge between January 2017 and November 2018.
- Your Fortnite account was locked between January 2017 and September 2022 after you disputed wrongful charges with your credit-card company.
- You were 18 or older when you filed, or a parent or guardian filed on behalf of a minor — and you submitted a claim by the July 9, 2025 deadline.
Fortnite refund status — what happens now
- 1
The claim deadline closed on July 9, 2025
The FTC opened a claim process, extended it once, and set a final deadline of July 9, 2025. That window is closed and no new claims are accepted. If you did not file by then, you cannot join the refund program now.
- 2
Two rounds of payments have already gone out
The FTC sent more than $72 million to 629,344 players in December 2024, then more than $126 million to 969,173 players in June 2025 — about $200 million to roughly 1.6 million people so far. Payments went by PayPal or mailed check based on the option each person selected.
- 3
More payments are coming in 2026
The FTC says it expects to send additional payments in 2026 after reviewing and validating all remaining claims. If you filed a claim after February 14, 2025, you do not need to do anything else right now — watch for a PayPal notice or a check in the mail.
- 4
How to check your Fortnite refund status
The authoritative source is the FTC at ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds/fortnite-refunds. For questions about a specific payment, contact the refund administrator, Rust Consulting, at 1-833-915-0880 or admin@fortniterefund.com. Cash any check within 90 days and redeem PayPal payments within 30 days.
- 5
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Frequently asked questions
When will I get my Fortnite refund?
If you filed a valid claim by July 9, 2025, you are in line for a payment. The FTC has already sent about $200 million in two rounds (December 2024 and June 2025) and says more payments will go out in 2026 as remaining claims are validated. No exact 2026 date has been announced.
Is the Fortnite refund claim still open?
No. The deadline to file was July 9, 2025, and the FTC is no longer accepting claims. If you did not submit a claim before that date, you cannot get a refund from this program now.
How much is the Fortnite refund per person?
The FTC has not published an official average. Based on the amounts sent, the December 2024 round averaged about $114 per payment and the June 2025 round about $130. Your amount depends on your charges and how many people filed, so no fixed per-person figure applies.
How are Fortnite refunds paid?
By PayPal or a mailed check, based on the payment option you selected on your claim form. Cash a check within 90 days of receiving it, and redeem a PayPal payment within 30 days, or the payment may expire.
What was the Epic Games FTC settlement about?
The FTC alleged Epic used deceptive "dark patterns" that caused Fortnite players to be charged for items they didn't want, allowed children to make purchases without parental consent, and locked players out of their accounts for disputing charges. Epic agreed to $245 million in consumer refunds while changing these practices.
Is the $245 million Fortnite refund the same as the $275 million penalty?
No. They are two separate parts of Epic's FTC settlement. The $245 million is a consumer-refund fund paid to players. The $275 million is a civil penalty for violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA); it went to the U.S. Treasury and is not refunded to anyone.
Do I need to pay a fee to get my Fortnite refund?
No. The FTC never charges a fee to send a refund. Any website or message asking you to pay to "claim" or "release" a Fortnite refund is a scam. Use only the official FTC page at ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds/fortnite-refunds.
Sources and official records
Every figure and date on this page was taken from the primary records below — court dockets, agency releases, and the settlement administrator's own notices. Payout averages we describe as averages are calculated from the official totals, not reported per-person estimates.
- FTC — fortnite refunds page (current payout status and eligibility)
- FTC press release — FTC Sends $126 Million in Refunds to Fortnite Players Who Were Charged for Unwanted Items, Reopens Claims Process
- FTC press release — FTC Sends Refund Payments to Consumers Impacted by Epic Games’ Unlawful Billing Practices
- FTC press release — FTC Extends Deadline for Fortnite Players to Request Refunds for Unwanted Items
- FTC press release — FTC Announces Claims Process for Fortnite Players Who Were Charged for Unwanted Items
- FTC press release — FTC Finalizes Order Requiring Fortnite maker Epic Games to Pay $245 Million for Tricking Users into Making Unwanted Charges
- FTC case record — Epic Games, In the Matter of
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