Cult-video game "Fortnite" developer to compensate users for unwanted purchases

Parents whose children made unauthorized virtual purchases on the popular Fortnite video game may soon have the opportunity to receive a refund.

As reported by the New York Times, US trade regulators have begun informing over 37 million individuals through email that they might qualify for monetary compensation as part of a legal agreement with Epic Games Inc., the game developer of one of the most popular computer games, Fortnite.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) disclosed back in 2022 that Epic Games would have to pay $520 million in fines and reimbursements to address concerns related to children's privacy and deceptive payment methods that led players to make unintended purchases.

The $520 million consists of $245 million, specifically designated for customer refunds, as part of a settlement finalized in March of this year. This fund is intended to cover expenses incurred from purchasing unwanted in-game currency called "V-Bucks" and virtual items like costumes or tools. 

Caliber.Az recalls, that the online game has a significant amount of userbase and enjoys cult-following. After 6 years of first being launched, it records around 230 million monthly active players as of 2023, with over 500 million registered players.

As reported by Demands Age, it is predicted that the game has made over $26 billion in revenue in the span of 5 years (2017-2022).