FTC Issues Refunds for Epic Games' Billing Violations

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is distributing over $72 million in refunds to consumers affected by Epic Games' deceptive billing practices in Fortnite. This is part of a $245 million settlement reached in December 2022, addressing allegations that Epic Games used misleading design tactics, known as dark patterns, to trick players into unwanted purchases and allowed unauthorized charges by children. The FTC is sending 629,344 payments, split between PayPal and checks, with an average refund of $114. Consumers can still submit claims online, and the FTC emphasizes that no payment or account information is required to receive a refund.