The Federal Trade Commission’s first Fortnite refund round sent 629,344 payments totaling $72,003,286.94, according to the agency’s 2025 annual refund report. That was the December 2024 distribution—not the total ultimately issued. The FTC announced a second round of more than $126 million in June 2025, bringing refunds issued for Epic Games’ billing practices to nearly $200 million at that time. The claim deadline has passed, and the FTC says it is no longer accepting claims.
What did the $72 million Fortnite refund cover?
The $72 million figure refers to the FTC’s first distribution to Fortnite customers, announced on December 9, 2024. The commission said it sent 629,344 payments and that the average payment was about $114. Its 2025 annual refund report later recorded the first-round total as $72,003,286.94. The average describes that round; it does not guarantee what any individual claimant received.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Fortnite eGift Card | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Fortnite eGift Card | $15.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Fortnite Physical Gift Card | $30.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Fortnite Physical Gift Card | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Fortnite eGift Card | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
The FTC said eligible consumers may have been charged for unwanted in-game items in scenarios such as pressing a button while waking the game from sleep mode, during a loading screen, or pressing an adjacent button while previewing an item. FTC: December 2024 payment announcement
How does the first payment round compare with later refunds?
| Distribution | Amount sent | Payments | What the figure represents |
|---|---|---|---|
| First round, announced December 9, 2024 | $72,003,286.94, reported by the FTC in 2025 | 629,344, announced by the FTC in 2024 | First-round total |
| Second round, announced June 25, 2025 | More than $126 million | 969,173 | Second-round distribution |
| Cumulative amount as of June 25, 2025 | Nearly $200 million | Not stated in the announcement as a cumulative payment count | Total refunds issued by that announcement date; not a current 2026 total |
The FTC reported that 496,187 consumers—78.8% of the first-round recipients—had cashed a payment in its 2024 refund report. That is a historical snapshot of the first distribution, not a current cashing rate. FTC 2024 Annual Refund Report The later figures come from the agency’s June 2025 announcement. FTC: June 2025 payment announcement
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- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
Who was eligible to file a Fortnite refund claim?
The FTC’s listed eligibility categories covered certain charges and account lockouts during these date ranges:
- A player was charged in-game currency for unwanted items between January 2017 and September 2022.
- A child charged a credit card without the cardholder’s knowledge between January 2017 and November 2018.
- An account was locked between January 2017 and September 2022 after its holder complained to a credit card company about wrongful charges.
Claimants had to be at least 18 to submit a form. A parent or guardian had to submit it for a younger player. The filing deadline was July 9, 2025; the FTC says the claims process is closed and it is not accepting claims. FTC Fortnite refunds page
Rank #2
- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
Can you still receive a payment?
The FTC’s refunds page says it expects to send additional payments in 2026 after reviewing and validating claims. The page does not confirm that those payments have been sent. Check the official page for current status rather than treating an expected payment as completed. The FTC says payment amounts depend on factors including how many claims were filed; the first round’s roughly $114 average is not a guaranteed individual amount.
The FTC names Rust Consulting as the refund administrator and lists 1-833-915-0880 for questions. Use the official FTC Fortnite refunds page to check status.
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Rank #3
- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
- Redemption: Online
How can you avoid Fortnite refund scams?
The FTC’s warning is direct: “The Commission never requires people to pay money or provide account information to get a refund.” Do not pay a fee or disclose account credentials to someone claiming they can release a payment. Use only the FTC’s official refund information and the administrator contact it lists.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why did the FTC issue Fortnite refunds?
The FTC’s complaint alleged that confusing and inconsistent purchase controls led to unwanted purchases, that children could incur charges without parental involvement, and that some consumers who disputed charges were blocked from purchased content. These are allegations addressed through a settlement, not findings after a trial. In December 2022, Epic Games agreed to a $245 million settlement for consumer refunds; the FTC finalized the order in March 2023.
Rank #4
- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
- Redemption: Online
The complaint described Fortnite as free to download and play, with optional digital items. The refund matter concerns the billing practices covered by the FTC case, not a general refund for owning or playing Fortnite. FTC case timeline · FTC complaint
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
