The Federal Trade Commission has issued a final ruling on fines for Epic Games. Fortnite’s business model was seen as a threat to players.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which in recent months has expressed concern about the state of the video game industry, acting as one of the institutions assessing the legality of the merger between Microsoft and Activision, this time attracted his attention on another giant. , especially Fortnite developers.
Epic Games Fines Assessment and Process
Where did it all start? In December 2022, we reported on the jaw-dropping fine imposed by the FTC on Epic Games, which was expected to amount to $520 million. The authorization process for this fine was completed on Monday.
- Already the previous year, the creators of Fortnite had agreed to pay part of the fine, which was a fine for violating children’s laws (which amounts to 275 million dollars).
- Earlier this week, the commission voted on the remaining amount, a reference to the losses of players and parents of younger Fortnite fans.
As soon as the official announcement of the decision of the FTC, we can know that Epic Games will pay a $245 million fine for “using non-obvious solutions, tricking players into making unwanted purchases, and allowing children to make payments without parental supervision.”
Remuneration under the control of the FTC
As the US Federal Trade Commission attests, the latest fine imposed on Epic Games isn’t meant to be a simple punishment for slipping through the bureaucratic ether. The total amount paid by the manufacturers of Fortnite it will be used for reimbursements and repairs to injured players.
Who can claim compensation from the FTC?
- Parents whose children made unauthorized purchases by credit card on the Epic Games Store between January 2017 and November 2018.
- Fortnite players, who were charged in-game currency (V-bucks) for unwanted in-game items (such as cosmetic items, llamas, or passes) between January 2017 and September 2022.
- Fortnite players whose accounts were locked between January 2017 and September 2022 after disputing unauthorized credit card charges.
However, the assessment of individual cases is in the hands of the commission.
- Federal Trade Commission Statement