Epic Games, the studio behind Fortnite, is facing a class-action lawsuit over claims that its Item Shop practices deceive players — particularly minors — using artificial scarcity and misleading countdown timers to drive impulse purchases.
Filed in San Francisco federal court in early 2025, the case accuses Epic of exploiting psychological triggers like FOMO (fear of missing out) to encourage users to spend money on digital cosmetics.
⏳ What's at the Center of the Lawsuit?
The complaint argues that Fortnite’s Item Shop creates the illusion of urgency through tactics like:
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Countdown timers suggesting limited availability
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“Last chance” prompts that aren’t always true
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Skins reappearing days or weeks after being removed
👨👩👧 Parents Take Action
Two parents filed the lawsuit on behalf of their children, alleging that Fortnite's in-game marketing manipulates underage players who don't fully understand these strategies. They claim the shop’s design leads to rushed, uninformed purchases—spurred by false scarcity.
⚖️ Epic Games’ Monetization History Under Scrutiny
This isn’t the first time Epic Games has come under fire for how Fortnite handles microtransactions.
🚨 Notable Precedents:
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In 2024, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets fined Epic €1.1 million (~$1.2M USD) for deceptive use of countdown timers.
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Epic responded by implementing features like:
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🛑 Hold-to-confirm purchases
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🔁 Instant cancellation windows
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🔐 Parental PIN controls
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Despite those improvements, the new lawsuit argues the core issue remains: players—especially minors—are still being pressured into buying items due to unpredictable shop rotations.
🛡️ Epic Games Responds to Allegations
Epic has denied the claims, stating the lawsuit contains “factual inaccuracies” and misrepresents current in-game mechanics. The company emphasized:
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Fortnite has industry-leading parental controls
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No payment data is stored without explicit consent
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The Item Shop offers clear and user-friendly experiences
As of now, the court has not decided whether the case will move forward as a class-action suit.
📊 Why This Matters: A Precedent for In-Game Shops
If the case proceeds, it could set a legal precedent for how gaming companies must handle:
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Microtransactions
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Digital item availability
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In-game advertising toward children
With regulatory scrutiny intensifying across the EU, U.S., and Asia, the outcome of this lawsuit could reshape monetization models for not only Fortnite but the broader gaming industry.
🧠 Final Thoughts – Ethical Monetization in Gaming Under Fire
This lawsuit shines a spotlight on the growing tension between monetization strategies and consumer protection—particularly when it involves children and teens.
As Fortnite remains a leader in live-service game design, how Epic handles this legal challenge may influence the future of in-game stores, digital goods marketing, and youth-targeted monetization.
🎯 Whether you’re a parent, player, or industry analyst, this is a case worth watching.
