Epic Games has reportedly reached a settlement with a minor who is being accused of creating and selling cheats for Fortnite, the studio’s popular video game title. The terms of the settlement, however, have been kept under wraps.
Fortnite, which continues to be among the all-time most popular free-to-play games, was launched back in 2018. Since its release, the title has become a cultural phenomenon and raked in at least $3 billion for developer Epic Games across all platforms that year.
Earlier this year, a 16-year-old even won $3 million just by playing in the Fornite World Cup. The stream of the event was able to grow to around 2 million viewers.
In its complaint against the minor, who is only known as CBV, Epic Games alleged that he infringed copyright "by using, marketing, selling, and trafficking in cheat software" for the hit game. "Defendant's cheat software injects unauthorized computer code into Epic's copyright protected Fortnite code to allow its users to cheat at Fortnite," the original complaint stated. The case was filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina Western Division.
"Defendant's cheating and inducing and enabling of others to cheat ruin the game playing experience," Epic added.
CBV hosted a YouTube channel where he posted videos of him using the hacks to cheat at Fortnite. "He posted these videos to demonstrate, advertise, and market the hacks he sells," Epic Games said in a statement. Also, CBV mentioned in this channel that he is only 14 years old.
The developer mentioned in an emailed statement that it pursues "all available options to make sure our games are fun, fair, and competitive for players."
"When cheaters use aimbots or other cheat technologies to gain an unfair advantage, they ruin games for people who are playing fairly," the company’s representative added.
CBV reached the settlement agreement with his mother, who couldn't be reached for comment.
The suit against the minor was brought by Epic Games earlier this summer, with the defendant initially filing a motion to dismiss based on factors such as having residency in Illinois and lack of connection to North Carolina (where the studio is based and the motion was filed).
