Epic Games, the company behind the blockbuster video game Fortnite The FTC was ordered to pay customers $245 million. Federal agency claimed Fortnite Players have been tricked into making in-game purchases using Dark Patterns.
Games developer reports Epic Games, the creator of the popular online game Fortnite The Federal Trade Commission was ordered to pay customers $245 million. The payment is part of a larger agreement it made with the FTC last year to address issues with the store’s procedures and refund systems used in the store Fortnite.
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 26: Fans attend the first day of the Fortnite World Cup Finals at Arthur Ashe Stadium on July 26, 2019 in the borough of Queens, New York City. (Photo by Sarah Steer/Getty Images)
Fortnite on Nintendo Switch (Erik Mcclean/Pexels)
The FTC claims that Epic Games deceived players into making unnecessary purchases using “dark patterns” and allowed minors to charge unauthorized fees without parental supervision. The watchdog detailed a complaint in December 2022 that focused on the company’s use of “a variety of design tricks,” known as dark styles, that led to unintentional in-game purchases by users of all ages.
According to the FTC complaint, FortniteThe “illogical, inconsistent, and confusing button configuration” inadvertently charged players with just one button press. The business also made it easier for children to buy things without their parents’ permission. Epic allegedly closed the accounts of customers disputing unauthorized charges with their credit card companies.
In a statement published in December 2022, Epic Games stated that they never intended to cheat players. According to the company, all game developers must evaluate their payment processes to adopt “practices that provide the greatest clarity to players when making purchasing decisions.”
“No developer creates a game with the intention of it ending up here. The video game industry is a place of fast-moving innovation, where player expectations are high and fresh ideas are paramount.” Laws written decades ago did not define how game ecosystems should operate, Epic Games wrote.
Epic has affirmed its dedication to leading the way in consumer protection and giving players the best possible experience. “The laws haven’t changed, but enforcement has evolved and long-standing industry practices are no longer enough. We accepted this agreement because we want Epic to be at the forefront of consumer protection and to deliver the best experience for our players.”
The $245 million will be used to give affected customers refunds. As a result of the settlement, Epic Games is no longer allowed to use Dark Modes going forward, and is required to ask customers for permission before charging them. The order also prohibits the company from denying customers access to their accounts in order to contest unauthorized charges.
Epic Games also agreed to pay a $275 million fine to settle FTC allegations that the company violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), according to a separate agreement announced in December 2022.
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Lucas Nolan is a reporter for Breitbart News covering issues of free speech and internet censorship. Follow him on Twitter @employee
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