Epic Games sued for 'deceptive' practices in Fortnite item shop
What's the story
Epic Games, the creator of the popular battle royale game Fortnite, is facing a class action lawsuit in San Francisco.
The suit accuses the company of using deceptive tactics in its in-game Item Shop.
The plaintiffs allege that these tactics manipulate players into making impulsive purchases, especially targeting minors.
They claim misleading countdown timers and false scarcity tactics are used to pressure players into buying items quickly.
Allegations
Lawsuit details deceptive practices in Fortnite's item shop
The lawsuit was filed by two parents on behalf of their children. They claim Epic Games creates an illusion of scarcity to trigger a sense of urgency among players.
The Fortnite Item Shop features limited-time offers, with countdown timers indicating that some skins or items will go away once the timer expires.
However, the plaintiffs argue that in many cases, items don't actually go away or revert to full price as suggested.
Previous fine
Previous fine for misleading countdown timers
In 2024, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets fined Epic Games €1.1 million (approximately $1.2 million) for misleading countdown timers in the Fortnite Item Shop.
Following this, Epic removed the countdown timers and added new features like a hold-to-purchase mechanic, instant cancelations, and parental controls to avoid unintended purchases.
However, despite these changes, the latest lawsuit argues that the core issue remains unresolved.
Denial
Epic Games denies allegations, emphasizes parental controls
Epic Games has strongly denied the allegations in the lawsuit, stating that it contains "factual errors" and does not accurately represent how Fortnite operates.
The company reiterated its commitment to providing industry-leading parental controls, including PIN-protected purchases.
It also stressed that it doesn't save payment information without explicit consent from users.
The case is now pending in court, which will decide if it can proceed as a class action lawsuit.