The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has finalized an order requiring Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, to pay $245 million to consumers. The FTC accused Epic of using dark patterns to trick players into making unwanted purchases and allowing children to make unauthorized charges without parental consent. The complaint stated that Fortnite’s confusing button configuration led to unintended charges, and Epic also locked accounts of customers who disputed unauthorized charges. The $245 million will be used to provide refunds to consumers, and Epic is prohibited from using dark patterns or charging consumers without consent. The FTC voted 4-0 to approve the complaint and order. In a separate settlement, Epic agreed to pay a $275 million penalty for violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Rule. Consumers can visit FTC.gov/Fortnite for more information on the refund process.
