A Dutch consumer organization has initiated legal proceedings against Epic Games, accusing the company of misleading young Fortnite players. The group is pursuing over €100 million in damages.
The Dutch organization Stichting Massaschade & Consument (SMC) has initiated a collective legal action against Epic Games, charging the company with deceptive practices affecting young Fortnite enthusiasts.
The lawsuit covers Fortnite users in the Netherlands under the age of 21. It demands over €100 million in compensation for misleading practices and unauthorized gathering of minors' data.
A study referenced by SMC shows that among over 1,000 Dutch youths between 16 and 19 years old, 60% believed buying virtual currencies like V-Bucks didn’t seem like spending actual money, while 50% regretted purchases made under pressure.
SMC has given Epic an official liability notice and has suggested settlement negotiations. Should these discussions not succeed, the matter will be taken to court.
In 2024, Epic faced a €1,125,000 penalty from the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) for utilizing "unfair commercial practices" in its item store, which exploited minors.
A court in Rotterdam endorsed the ACM's decision in early 2026.
Epic incurred a €562,500 fine for employing phrases like "get it now" in its store, and another €562,500 for using expiration timers misleadingly showing items would soon be unavailable.
Lucia Melcherts of SMC stated, "We're not advocating for a ban on Fortnite. However, a Dutch regulator determined Epic set rules aside, a judgment affirmed by a court. Thus, Epic should reimburse the players."
"The game was intentionally structured to entice purchases from players, who should have safeguards against such tactics. The company should bear responsibility, not the consumers or their families," she added.
In a related matter, SMC pursued legal action against Sony in 2025, accusing it of misusing its market position in the Netherlands to overcharge 1.7 million PlayStation customers for online games.
In response, Epic Games spokesperson Phil Mahoney told GamesIndustry.biz:
"Epic has developed protective features and parental controls over purchase activities. The Fortnite Item Shop lacks an expiration timer. Parents can mandate a PIN for purchases, and underage users in the Netherlands cannot access items available for less than 48 hours. Children under 16 who register accounts in the Netherlands do so as Cabined Accounts, where buying with real money requires parental consent. We also support protections like purchase confirmations, immediate purchase reversals, self-service returns, and options on saving payment details."