Epic Games Lawsuit: What Fortnite Players Can Expect
The video game industry has long faced scrutiny. It’s to be expected, as video games increasingly consume the lives of the younger generation. While we don’t believe video games themselves are inherently bad, there are many malicious actors in the industry fighting to make a buck any way that they can.
An example of this is Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite. They are currently facing a lawsuit, the specifics of which we will discuss in this article, so keep reading.
What is the Epic Games Lawsuit?
The Epic Games lawsuit is a legal battle where players of the game are arguing with the creators of Fortnite over perceived deceptive practices in the industry. Here is what Epic Games is being accused of:
· Deceptive practices in the in-game store
· A falsely created illusion of scarcity that tricks players into desiring items
· Fake countdown timers for fake discounts
· Deceptive scarcity that has created a black market for highly desirable Fortnite accounts
While this is the current lawsuit, this isn’t the only one Epic Games is currently facing. In fact, in December 24, the Federal Trade Commission ruled on a previous class-action lawsuit against the company, awarding players over $245 million dollars in retribution. As of March 7th, 2025, $72 million has already been sent.
This already-settled lawsuit had a different scope—as it was in regard to the fact that for years, children had been able to make purchases in the Fortnite shop without parental consent. Then, when the parents complained or claimed fraud with their credit card company, the Fortnite accounts were locked.
As we mentioned, this lawsuit has already been settled, and the date to claim has already passed. That being said, Epic Games has stated that they have changed their process of buying items in the store to ensure, going forward, children aren’t tricked into large purchases and that parental consent is required for purchases of any size.
How Was Money Paid Out?
Those who were owed retribution for the first Epic Games lawsuit have already mostly been paid out. While the FTC states they are still going through some claims, many individuals have already reported receiving their settlement.
The settlement came in the form of a PayPal transaction, with most claimants receiving something around $200-$250. Many claimants are upset with this, as they suspect that they (or their children) have spent far more in the Fortnite store before the lawsuit was enacted. But still, money is money at this point.
Who is Behind the New Epic Games Lawsuit?
Epic Games is being pursued by a family, two parents specifically, who are acting on behalf of their children. The lawsuit originated in the San Francisco court system.
This lawsuit was just filed on March 8th, 2025, and we are unsure how it will proceed.
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Will the New Lawsuit Be Awarded?
As mentioned above, this lawsuit is fairly new, having been proposed only last week. That being said, we do actually expect this lawsuit to go a long way.
The parents who are behind the case have some strong evidence of the false scarcity they claim is being perpetuated in the Fortnite shop. Not only that, but they have matched this sketchy behavior with violated state laws, meaning it has traction.
This false scarcity is caused by Epic Games placing timers on items in the shop, making players feel like if they don’t buy the item now, it will go away. While Fortnite claims that these timers are only for prices, which will change after the timer ends, monitoring has shown that not to be the case.
During the investigation, lawyers monitored several shop items with timers. While some items did disappear when the timer ran out, others didn’t. The ones that didn’t disappear often kept the same price even—indicating that the timer was advertising a false discount—something which is illegal under many consumer regulations.
To date, Fortnite’s timer practices violate the following regulations:
· North Carolina Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act
· California Consumers Legal Remedies Act
· California False Advertising Law
· California Unfair Competition Law
· Texas Unfair and Deceptive Practices Act
There are likely far more local regulations violated. However, the current plaintiffs are located in California and Texas, and Epic Games is located in North Carolina, which is why these regulations are highlighted.
All of this to say, we do believe that this lawsuit has merit, and we are reasonably certain there will eventually be a monetary award. Don’t get too excited, however, as these types of cases take years to work out, and you likely won’t see any money until the end of the decade. (The other lawsuit mentioned in this article occurred in 2018, and money is being awarded now, in 2024, for reference.)
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Is the Epic Games Lawsuit Legit?
If you receive an email referencing the Epic Games lawsuit, or perhaps a payment for the previous one, know that it is a legitimate court case. You will want to verify the filing number before providing any information however, as there are always malicious actors looking to take advantage of situations like this.
The 2018 case, which is currently awarding restitution, is filed under USA v. Epic Games Inc., Case No. 5:22-CV-00518-BO, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
The case that has just been filed though we were unable to find a specific case number just yet.
How to File a Claim for Epic Games Lawsuit
For the 2025 case, they have not begun accepting claims just yet, however, if you are a Fortnite player who has bought items in the shop over the last several years, you will want to keep an eye on your email. By law, if there is any remedy awarded they must contact all those affected.
Just remember to check the case numbers and ensure they match before giving away any of your personal information. Additionally, lawsuits don’t require things like social security numbers, so never provide this. You should only be asked your name, address, email, and possibly your PayPal address for payment.
