A group of parents accuses the company of inducing impulsive purchases with fake timers.
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Epic Games has been sued in a San Francisco court by a group of parents accusing the company of deceptive practices in the Fortnite store. According to the complaint, the company used countdown timers to create a sense of scarcity in the sale of skins and other items, pressuring players to make impulsive purchases.
The plaintiffs argue that this strategy especially affects minors, who are more vulnerable to the fear of missing out (FOMO). They also claim that many of the items become available again a few days later without changes in their price, which would demonstrate that the urgency created by the timers is artificial.
Epic Games had already been sanctioned in Europe
Epic Games enfrenta una demanda por tácticas engañosas en la tienda de Fortnite
This is not the first time Epic Games faces legal issues over its monetization strategies.
In 2023, the Netherlands fined the company more than one million euros for displaying nonexistent discounts with timers that did not reflect real price changes.
The new lawsuit in the United States could become a class action, which would increase its legal and financial impact.
Epic Games' response
Epic Games enfrenta una demanda por tácticas engañosas en la tienda de Fortnite
The company denied the accusations and stated that the timer was removed in 2023. It also highlighted that it has implemented protective measures for players, including:
Cancellation of accidental purchases and refund possibility.
Mandatory parental consent for players under 13 years old.
Despite these claims, the court will have to decide if the lawsuit proceeds as a class action, which could result in a new multimillion-dollar sanction for Epic Games.
