Epic Games is facing intense backlash after a mass removal of Fortnite items and V-Bucks left thousands of players without purchases they claim were legitimate. The rollback, carried out Thursday, was described as a clean-up of “fraudulent purchases” tied to an Xbox refund glitch.
The glitch reportedly allowed players to buy V-Bucks, claim Microsoft refunds, and still keep the currency. Epic said that fixing the issue required revoking items from accounts, but many users insist that their legally bought cosmetics were wiped. Skins, emotes, and even months-old purchases disappeared, sparking outrage on Reddit.
One player reported losing every item bought over a seven-month period, while others shared receipts showing purchases through gift cards. Epic maintains only fraudulent accounts were affected, but critics argue that innocent players are caught in the crossfire.
The dispute raises wider questions about digital ownership. If platforms can revoke paid items without recourse, do players truly own their virtual goods? Fans are now calling for clearer safeguards, transparent support channels, and dispute options to restore wrongly removed content.
Epic must now decide whether to reinforce trust by improving its processes—or risk losing players in a market where confidence is as valuable as cosmetics.
