- The Federal Trade Commission in the US has extended the deadline for Fortnite players to request refunds for unwanted in-game items.
- The deadline was originally set for the end of January 2024.
- The refunds are part of a settlement reached with Epic Games late last year.
If you are a Fortnite player based in the United States and noticed some unwanted items in your in-game purchases, there is a recourse in the form of a refunds request portal via the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The portal was spun up following a settlement between the FTC and the creators of Fortnite, Epic Games, in September of last year. The lawsuit stemmed from in-game purchases and the fact that many players were unknowingly charge for in-game cosmetic items and had no way of getting their money back.
The settlement totalled $520 million, with $37 million of that earmarked specifically towards organising refunds for Fortnite players.
Since the settlement was first detailed, the FTC has been contacting players it believes are eligible for refunds, with an initial deadline to submit requests outlined for 17th January, which was subsequently pushed back to the end of the month.
Now the deadline has been extended again, with it set for 29th February, per Engadget.
When it comes to eligibility, the FTC notes that players must meet at least one of the below requirements:
- “You were charged in-game currency for items you didn’t want between January 2017 and September 2022
- Your child made charges to your credit card without your knowledge between January 2017 and November 2018
- Your account was locked between January 2017 and September 2022 after you complained to your credit card company about wrongful charges.”
It is also worth noting that you must be over 18 to apply for a refund, but if you are underage, a parent or guardian must do so in your place.
With in-game purchases a sticking point for regulators across the globe and parents who often have to foot the bill, it will be interesting if watchdogs in other parts of the globe will also take Epic Games to task over unwanted items being charged to players.
To make your refund request, head to the FTC portal here.
