The FTC Fortnite Refund: Why Are Fans Rejoicing?

Fortnite fan? Then you may just be one of the 600,000 people receiving a payment from the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) following its investigation into Epic Games.

Back in 2022, the FTC announced it reached a settlement with Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, that required the company to pay back $245 million to users. According to the organization, this was because Epic Games “used design tactics known as dark patterns to trick players into making unwanted purchases.”

Now, the first $72 million of that Fornite refund is being distributed to impacted users — and the internet couldn’t be more excited.

The online reaction to the Fortnite refund is a prime example of generational celebration, and shows how social media can spread joy in tough times.

Before we get there though, let’s take a step back.

The Story Behind The Fortnite Refund — And How The Internet Is Responding

Fortnite is a hugely popular free-to-play online game. So popular, in fact, that in March 2023, the title had 500 million registered users. If we take the projection that the world’s population was just over 8 billion around the same time, that means roughly 6% of the globe signed up to play Fortnite.

Of course, this figure isn’t entirely accurate, as many people will have multiple accounts, but the number at least shows the incredible scale of the game.

The Fortnite refund itself comes from an FTC investigation into Epic Games, which found the company “tricked” users into making unwanted purchases.

This, according to the organization, happened in a few ways, including unwanted purchases, to letting children build up unauthorized charges without parental permission.

One example the FTC gave was how 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 first $72 million from this refund is being distributed now, with the remainder to follow in the future, giving people more time to sign up for compensation.

The internet doesn’t seem to mind about where the money came from though. Instead, many people online are simply overjoyed with Fortnite refund:

Another similar type of post that’s gaining popularity focuses on the fact this feels like a windfall:

Most intriguingly though are the posts about the Fortnite refund that combine this sense of excitement with appreciation.

Take this TikTok from user Jaked as an example:

Liked by almost 220k people at the time of writing, the TikTok highlights how this “Fortnite stimulus” has relieved him of anxiety — a point that was repeated multiple times across social media.

This begs a question: beyond the simple joy of receiving money, why have so many people posted about and engaged the Fortnite Refund online?

The Meaning Behind The Internet’s Reaction To The Fortnite Refund

Firstly, Fortnite is a game with a young userbase. Statistics suggest that 60% of players are between the ages of 18 and 24.

Where this gets especially interesting is that this age group has the highest unemployment rate in the United States. This was 9.7% in 2023, far higher than the 2.8% for people between the ages of 35 and 44.

When you consider that more than half of the 18-24 age bracket still live at home, a clearer picture emerges. We can assume, then, that many in this specific Gen Z segment are struggling with money.

And let’s not forget that, on top of this, they’re incredibly online group, with UK-based people in this generation spending over six hours a day on the internet.

This coalesces into the situation we see with the Fortnite refund. Many users are not only happy with this extra bit of money, but also feel compelled to communicate about it in a very typical Gen Z way: by posting online.

Because Fortnite is one of the largest games in the world and a cultural touchpoint, the refund is a moment that many can take part in.

Social media, then, acts as a connector, a way that an online generation can share excitement and relief at getting paid in a rocky financial climate. It’s as close to a communal moment Gen Z can get, and it’s happening in real time

What we’re witnessing with the Fortnite refund is an organic expression of joy spreading across the internet — and there are few finer things to see than that.