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Oliver Brandt is a Contributing Pop Culture Writer based in Tasmania, Australia. Their focus is reporting on video games, film, and TV. They have extensive knowledge of video game history and communities both in Australia and abroad, animated films and television shows, and international cinema. Oliver joined Newsweek in 2024 and has previously worked at Men's Journal, Parade, and more. They are a graduate of Curtin University. You can get in touch with Oliver by emailing o.brandt@newsweek.com. You can find them on X and Bluesky @chocobalt. Languages: English.
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Parents and Fortnite players have two more weeks to apply for a refund from Fortnite maker Epic Games, after the gaming giant was alleged to be violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by the FTC and subsequently entered into a settlement.
Epic Games was accused by the FTC of "unlawfully [charging] players for unwanted purchases, [letting] children rack up unauthorized charges without their parents' permission," and more.
The company agreed to pay a penalty of $520 million in 2022, and $245 million of that money is being used to refund some of those purchases to players in the US.
The first round of payouts came last year, with $72 million being paid out initially, rising to $126 million refunded to 969,173 players in the second round, which is set to pay out soon.
Affected players can apply for a third round of payments, set to be paid out later this year and early next year, but they need to act quickly, as applications close on July 9, 2025.
Who's Eligible for a Fortnite Refund?
In order to be eligible for a Fortnite refund, you need to meet one or more of the following 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
You also need to be a resident of the US, and to complete a claim form you need to be at least 18 years of age. Players under 18 are encouraged to get a parent or guardian to complete a claim for them.
How to Apply for a Fortnite Refund
To apply for a Fortnite refund, double check you meet the eligibility requirements above. You'll then need to go to the Fortnite Refund File a Claim website, and enter your information, including a claim number if you've received one, or your Epic Account ID.
To find your Epic Account ID, you can follow the steps on the Epic Games website, which tells you how to find your Epic Account ID on the web, in-game in Fortnite, Fall Guys, or Rocket League, or in the Epic Games launcher files.
You must complete this claim by July 9, 2025, otherwise you risk missing out on a refund.
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