Entertainment
FTC Fines Epic Games $245 Million in Settlement
Fortnite Developers to Compensate Players over In-Game Purchases
In late 2022, the Federal Trade Commission in the United States lodged a formal complaint against Epic Games, the creators of the widely popular online game Fortnite. The complaint specifically addressed concerns that the game utilized deceptive strategies, commonly referred to as “dark patterns,” to persuade players, particularly minors without parental consent, into unknowingly spending real money on in-game items.
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“The unconventional, inconsistent, and baffling button layout in Fortnite led to unexpected charges triggered by a single button press,” stated the FTC in an official announcement. “Additionally, the company enabled children to make purchases while playing Fortnite without parental authorization.”
FTC finalizes order demanding Epic Games to pay $245 million for deceiving users into making unauthorized payments. FTC will utilize the funds for refunds to consumers: https://t.co/Mp7JJyRk7y
— FTC (@FTC) March 14, 2023
This week, the FTC passed a verdict against Epic Games, instructing them to compensate players $245 million who had raised concerns about being misled into spending money. “The decree also prevents Epic from using dark patterns to bill consumers or charging consumers without their explicit consent,” the statement continued. “Moreover, the decree bars Epic from restricting consumers’ access to their accounts if they dispute unauthorized charges,” in reference to reports that Epic locked accounts of users contesting unwanted charges.
