Epic Games is facing a possible 100 million euro claim linked to Fortnite’s in-game purchases. Dutch consumer group Stichting Massaschade & Consument says the game uses ‘dark patterns’ to force players to spend money on in-game purchases without them even realizing it. The group points to features such as countdown timers for limited items and large ‘buy now’ buttons. This claim mostly protects gamers under 21.

The group also raised concerns regarding the game design of the battle royale and the way it collects children’s personal data without parental consent. The advocates cited a study showing that six out of ten buyers in the Netherlands don’t see V-Bucks as real-world money. The survey included more than 1,000 young players. 

At the point of writing, the group did not file the lawsuit and says it is open to a settlement. Epic rejected the claims and points to parental controls for spending and playtime.

Fortnite is free to download, so in-game spending is a key part of its business. Players can buy V-Bucks and use them for skins, passes, and other digital items.

However, this is not the first time Epic Games faced these allegations. Previously, the Netherlands issued a 1.1 million Euro fine in 2024, while the US Federal Trade Commission announced a USD 520 million penalty in 2022 over Fortnite-related practices.

Free-to-play games depend on a large player base and regular spending from part of that audience. Limited offers and virtual currency can encourage players to spend more often.

If regulators take a tougher view of these methods, other publishers may also need to change how they sell digital items.

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