FTC issues Fortnite players refunds after being ‘tricked’ into purchases

[Jack]

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FORTNITE PLAYERS ARE GETTING A REFUND AFTER FEDERAL REGULATORS FOUND THAT THE GAME’S DEVELOPER TRICKED PLAYERS INTO SPENDING MONEY ON UNWANTED PURCHASES.

THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION SAYS IT’S STARTING TO SEND 72 MILLION DOLLARS IN PAYMENTS TO EPIC GAMES CUSTOMERS.

IT’S JUST THE FIRST ROUND OF REFUNDS FOLLOWING A 20-22 SETTLEMENT OF 245 MILLION DOLLARS  – THE F-T-C’S LARGEST-EVER REFUND AMOUNT IN A GAMING CASE – WHICH EPIC GAMES AGREED TO FOR ITS “UNLAWFUL BILLING PRACTICES.”

FORTNITE IS FREE TO DOWNLOAD AND PLAY, BUT CHARGES GAMERS FOR OTHER ITEMS AND EXPERIENCES KNOWN AS “MICROTRANSACTIONS” … LIKE COSTUMES AND DANCE MOVES. 

WHILE MICROTRANSACTIONS ARE A COMMON FEATURE IN VIDEO GAMES … EPIC GAMES USED A DESIGN TACTIC CALLED “DARK PATTERNS” THAT HID IN-GAME PURCHASES – WHICH HAD PEOPLE RACKING UP PURCHASES … INCLUDING CHILDREN.

IN SOME CASES – JUST ONE ACCIDENTIAL PRESS OF A BUTTON LED TO PLAYERS INCURRING CHARGES. 

THE COMPLAINT DESCRIBED IT HAPPENING FROM 20-17 TO 20-22 … WHEN PLAYERS TRIED TO WAKE THE GAME UP FROM SLEEP MODE OR WHEN THEY PRESSED A BUTTON TO PREVIEW A PURCHASABLE ITEM.

EPIC GAMES IS ALSO ACCUSED OF LOCKING OUT CUSTOMERS WHO DISPUTED UNAUTHORIZED CHARGES, CAUSING THEM TO LOSE ACCESS TO ALL THE CONTENT THEY PURCHASED.

THE AVERAGE PAYMENT AMOUNT IN THE SETTLEMENT IS ABOUT 114 DOLLARS PER CUSTOMER EITHER THROUGH PAYPAL OR BY CHECK. 

THE F-T-C SAYS CUSTOMERS WHO SELECTED THEIR PAYMENT METHOD WHEN THEY COMPLETED THEIR CLAIM FORM, HAVE 30 DAYS TO REDEEM PAYPAL PAYMENTS AND 90 DAYS TO CASH CHECKS.

FORTNITE CUSTOMERS WHO THINK THEY’RE ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND CAN SUBMIT A CLAIM ONLINE UP UNTIL JANUARY TENTH. 

FOR SAN – I’M JACK AYLMER.

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