Fortnite players are receiving another wave of refunds, with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sending out more than US$126 million (A$190 million) in payments this week.

The refunds stem from a 2022 settlement with Epic Games, following FTC allegations that the company used deceptive design tricks, also known as “dark patterns” to get players, many of whom were children, to make unintended in-game purchases.

Some players were even locked out of their accounts after disputing charges.

This week’s distribution, covering nearly a million payments via cheque and PayPal, brings total refunds issued so far to nearly US$200 million. A previous round in December 2024 saw over 629,000 players receive more than US$72 million.

Epic Games Store

Epic agreed to pay a total of US$520 million in 2022, including a record US$275 million fine for privacy violations, with US$245 million earmarked specifically for consumer refunds.

The FTC has now reopened the claims process, giving eligible players until 9 July to file.

To qualify, players must be US residents and meet one of several criteria, such as being charged for unwanted items between 2017 and 2022 or having their account locked after a payment dispute.

Australian players are not eligible for these refunds as the settlement applies only to US-based consumers.

Still, the case highlights growing global scrutiny over in-game monetisation and the need for stronger consumer protections.