Dutch consumer advocacy foundation Stichting Massaschade & Consument issued a formal notice of liability against Epic Games on September 23, 2026, demanding over 100 million euros in damages for alleged predatory sales tactics targeting young Fortnite players.
The collective action represents Dutch players who interacted with the popular battle royale game before turning 21, seeking full refunds, data privacy compensation under GDPR laws, and redress for addictive design patterns.
According to research cited by the foundation involving more than 1,000 Dutch teenagers aged 16 to 19, six in 10 buyers of digital currencies such as V-Bucks said it didn’t feel like real money, and half said they had regretted a purchase made under time pressure.
The legal action builds upon an administrative ruling from the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets, which levied a 1.125 million euro fine against Epic Games in 2024 for deceptive commercial practices. The District Court of Rotterdam subsequently upheld the enforcement action in January 2026, making the regulator’s finding final after Epic declined further appeals.
SMC leadership emphasized that the action aims to enforce accountability following regulatory findings of non-compliance.
“We aren’t asking for Fortnite to be banned. But a Dutch regulator found that Epic broke the rules, and a court has confirmed it. The logical next step is for Epic to pay players back,” said Lucia Melcherts, chair of SMC.
The organization argued that the financial burden of aggressive monetization mechanisms should not fall upon minors or family households.
“Epic deliberately designed the game to pressure players into buying. Young consumers are supposed to be protected from exactly that. The bill belongs with the company that made the game, not with the players or their parents,” said Melcherts.
In response to the claim, Epic Games defended its current ecosystem parameters and parent-facing account restrictions.
“Epic has protections and tools so parents can control how their child makes purchases and set limits for how long they can play. The Fortnite Item Shop does not have a timer, parents can require a PIN to make real money purchases and players under 18 in the Netherlands cannot see or purchase items that are available in the Shop for less than 48 hours,” said Phil Mahoney, spokesperson for Epic Games.
The developer outlined additional account safety measures implemented for underage users within the region.
“When a player under 16 in the Netherlands creates an account, it is a Cabined Account where they cannot make real-money purchases until a parent or guardian provides consent. We also offer protections against unwanted purchases, including a two-step confirmation to make a purchase, instant purchase cancellations, self-service returns for Shop purchases, and an explicit choice on whether to save payment information,” said Mahoney.
If ongoing negotiations fail to yield an amicable settlement between both parties, SMC plans to formalize the proceedings before a Dutch civil court.
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