If you made an in-game purchase playing Fortnite without being 100% sure what you were doing, you might be entitled to a slice of the $245 million pay out pie agreed as a settlement by developer Epic Games.
However, the Fortnite settlement deadline has just changed quite dramatically and there’s new information you need to know. You might also want to brush up on how to make a Fortnite settlement claim to begin with – and we’ll show you how to do just that.
It’s actually good news if you’ve been dragging your feet with your claim, as the Fortnite settlement deadline has been extended into February. Here’s the lowdown, plus why Epic Game is paying out over its Fortnite indiscretions.
Fortnite Settlement: Claim Deadline and Pay Out Amount (2024 Update)
As we’ve just hinted at, the deadline to claim in the Fortnite settlement has been extended to February 29, 2024, as per the official Fortnite refunds listing on the FTC website. The original deadline of January 17, 2024, no longer stands.
That’s right, Epic Games has had its hand forced by none other the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) itself when it comes to this Fortnite settlement. Provided you’re at least 18 years of age and made an in-game purchase between the qualifying dates, you might be eligible for a pay out when all is said and done.
The exact pay out amount will vary depending on how many people have their claims approved, though based on the millions of potentially eligible Fortnite gamers, some reddit users have speculated that it could be around $6 a head.
How to Make a Fortnite Settlement Claim – and Who is Eligible?
To make a claim in the Fortnite settlement, simply head to the relevant page of the Fortnite Refunds website.
You may also have been contacted directly by the FTC if it thinks you’re eligible to claim, though the government body notes that only emails coming from its official Fortnite Refund Administrator <fortniterefund@rcnotifications.com> address are legitimate. This is important, as scammers often seek to impersonate bodies doling out payouts.
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You also need to meet a handful of criteria to be eligible for a Fortnite pay out in addition to being 18 or over. As per the FTC, claims will be considered provided the following conditions are met:
- You were charged in-game currency for items you didn’t want between January 2017 and September 2022
- One of your children made charges to your credit card between January 2017 and November 2018 without you knowing about it
- You were locked out of your account between January 2017 and September 2022 after you made your credit card company aware of the wrongful charges
Include your claim number or your Epic account ID in your filing, while minors can have a parent or guardian complete the form on their behalf if they’re not yet of age.
Fortnite Refund Settlement: The TL;DR History
In short, Epic Games settled two US lawsuits in December 2022 claim it had used underhand methods to encourage Fortnite players to buy in-game products. The amount agreed with the FTC was $245 million.
The FTC itself notes: “The company charged parents and gamers of all ages for unwanted items and locked the accounts of customers who disputed wrongful charges with their credit card companies.”
Similar class-action lawsuits were brought around the world, including in Canada, but the one now nearing the final stages of settlement in the US is the biggest.
As part of a separate settlement, $275 million will be paid to the US government for compiling the personal information of individuals under the age of 13 without their parent’s consent.
Although the case was settled more than eight months ago, the claims process has only just opened up, which is why it’s been hitting the headlines again.
