From PCMag:
The US Federal Trade Commission is forcing Fortnite developer Epic Games to refund customers $245 million for using manipulative practices to trick consumers into buying in-game goods.
The $245 million amount represents the “largest refund amount in a gaming case,” according to the FTC. But Epic Games will also pay an even larger penalty—$275 million—for violating a federal law focused on protecting the digital privacy of children.
In total, Epic Games is paying $520 million to settle the charges involving Fortnite, a free game that has over 400 million users. To make revenue, Fortnite sells in-game items and features to users, which has turned the multiplayer shooter into one of the most lucrative titles on the market.
However, the FTC alleges that Epic Games “cost consumers millions in illegal charges through its use of dark patterns,” or user interface functions that tricked consumers into making numerous accidental purchases.
“For example, players could be charged while attempting to wake the game from sleep mode, while the game was in a loading screen, or by pressing an adjacent button while attempting simply to preview an item,” the FTC says, citing confusing button configurations in the game.
Read the full article here
The US Federal Trade Commission is forcing Fortnite developer Epic Games to refund customers $245 million for using manipulative practices to trick consumers into buying in-game goods.
The $245 million amount represents the “largest refund amount in a gaming case,” according to the FTC. But Epic Games will also pay an even larger penalty—$275 million—for violating a federal law focused on protecting the digital privacy of children.
In total, Epic Games is paying $520 million to settle the charges involving Fortnite, a free game that has over 400 million users. To make revenue, Fortnite sells in-game items and features to users, which has turned the multiplayer shooter into one of the most lucrative titles on the market.
However, the FTC alleges that Epic Games “cost consumers millions in illegal charges through its use of dark patterns,” or user interface functions that tricked consumers into making numerous accidental purchases.
“For example, players could be charged while attempting to wake the game from sleep mode, while the game was in a loading screen, or by pressing an adjacent button while attempting simply to preview an item,” the FTC says, citing confusing button configurations in the game.
Read the full article here
