Fortnite FTC Refunds: Two Rounds Paid, Round 3 Expected in 2026
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Epic Games' $245 million FTC settlement over 'dark patterns' has already produced two refund rounds — $72M in December 2024 and $126M in June 2025, averaging roughly $114–$130 per payment. About $47 million remains, and the FTC says a third round goes out in 2026 once the last claims are validated. New claims closed for good on July 9, 2025.
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Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
Why Epic Games Is Refunding $245 Million
The FTC charged Epic Games with using dark patterns — confusing, inconsistent button layouts that made Fortnite players, including kids, buy items with a single accidental press. Children could rack up charges without any parental consent, and when families disputed charges with their card companies, Epic locked their entire Fortnite account, cutting off everything they'd ever bought. The $245 million refund order was finalized on March 14, 2023 — the largest administrative settlement in FTC history. It is separate from the $275 million COPPA penalty Epic paid in the same package (for enabling voice/text chat for under-13s by default) — that penalty went to the U.S. Treasury, not to refunds.
Case Details
In the Matter of Epic Games, Inc., FTC Matter No. 1923203 (administrative order finalized March 14, 2023; part of the December 19, 2022 announcement totaling $520M with the COPPA penalty). Refund administrator: Rust Consulting, Inc. — phone (833) 915-0880, payment questions: admin@fortniterefund.com. Official status page: ftc.gov/fortnite.
Current Status: Waiting for Round 3
Who Was Eligible — and Can You Still File?
Refunds cover players charged for unwanted items (2017–2022), parents whose kids made unauthorized card charges (2017–Nov 2018), and players whose accounts were locked after disputing charges (2017–Sept 2022). The FTC emailed more than 37 million potentially eligible people starting September 2023. The final claims deadline was July 9, 2025 — claims are closed, and no new filings are accepted. If you filed by that date and haven't been paid, you're in the Round 3 pool.
How Much Are Fortnite Refunds?
Timeline: From Dark Patterns to Refund Rounds
- 1
December 19, 2022 — $520M FTC package announced
The FTC announces two settlements with Epic: the $275M COPPA penalty and the proposed $245M dark-patterns refund order. The refund order is finalized March 14, 2023.
- 2
September 2023 — Claims open
The FTC opens the claims process and emails 37+ million potentially eligible players. The deadline is later extended from January 17 to February 29, 2024, then kept rolling.
- 3
December 9, 2024 — Round 1: $72M
629,344 payments go out by check and PayPal — about $114 on average.
- 4
June 25–26, 2025 — Round 2: $126M, claims reopened briefly
969,173 payments (~$130 average) go to everyone who filed by February 14, 2025. The FTC simultaneously reopens claims one last time — final deadline July 9, 2025.
- 5
2026 — Round 3 expected (~$47M)
The FTC says the remaining fund goes out in 2026 once late-window claims are validated. No specific date announced as of August 2026 — ftc.gov/fortnite is the authoritative tracker.
Scam Alert: Fake Fortnite Refund Messages
Gaming refunds are prime scam bait — the targets skew young, and the real process is confusingly quiet for months at a time. Three rules:
The FTC never asks for money or bank logins
No fee, no "verification payment," no gift cards, no crypto — ever. Anyone charging you to get or speed up a Fortnite refund is a scammer. Report them at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
"Claim your refund now" links are fake — claims are closed
Any 2026 message inviting you to file a Fortnite refund claim is fraudulent by definition: the claims window closed July 9, 2025. Only ftc.gov/fortnite and Rust Consulting at (833) 915-0880 are legitimate sources.
Epic in-game V-Bucks "refund offers"
The FTC settlement pays in real money (check/PayPal), not in V-Bucks or in-game credits. Messages inside or outside the game offering settlement compensation in game currency are not part of this program.
Fortnite Refund FAQ
When is the next round of Fortnite refunds?
The FTC says the third round — roughly $47 million — will be distributed in 2026, after all remaining claims are validated. As of August 2026, no exact date has been announced. Check ftc.gov/fortnite for the current status.
Can I still file a Fortnite refund claim?
No. The final deadline was July 9, 2025 (after the FTC briefly reopened the process in June 2025). No new claims are accepted.
I filed my claim in 2025 and got nothing — is that normal?
Yes. Claims filed between February 14 and July 9, 2025 were not part of Round 2 — they're the core of the Round 3 pool. The FTC says these claims are under review and no action is needed from you.
How much will Round 3 payments be?
Not published yet. For reference, Round 1 averaged ~$114 and Round 2 ~$130 per payment. Actual amounts depend on your charges and how many valid claims share the remaining fund.
My check expired / my PayPal payment lapsed — what now?
Checks are valid 90 days, PayPal payments 30 days. Contact the administrator, Rust Consulting, at (833) 915-0880 or admin@fortniterefund.com to ask about reissue.
Is the Fortnite refund email I got real?
Real payment notifications relate to a claim you already filed and never ask for money or account credentials. When in doubt, don't click — go to ftc.gov/fortnite directly or call (833) 915-0880.
What's the difference between the $245M and $275M Epic settlements?
The $245M order refunds consumers for dark-pattern billing tricks — that's the money behind these refund rounds. The $275M was a COPPA civil penalty for children's-privacy violations; it went to the U.S. Treasury and funds no refunds.
Separate from this case: were you injured in the last 2 years?
Class-action payouts are fixed amounts through an administrator. A personal injury claim is a different case — and often worth far more. Free estimate, no obligation.
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