Epic Games Wins Lawsuit Against Cheater, Imposes $175K Fine and Lifetime Ban

Raleigh, North Carolina – Epic Games has secured a major victory in court against a Fortnite player who cheated during a competitive tournament. On June 25, 2025, a judge ruled in favor of Epic Games after the player, Sebastian Araujo, failed to respond to the lawsuit. The ruling mandates Araujo to pay $175,000 in damages, which Epic has committed to donate to charity.

The lawsuit was filed on December 18, 2024, when Araujo used cheating software and multiple accounts to exploit Fortnite’s systems during a sanctioned event. Epic Games reported that their anti-cheat measures ultimately caught him, leading to the lawsuit.

“Cheating has no place in Fortnite, and we’re doing everything we can to stop it, including legal action,” Epic said in an earlier statement. The ruling not only imposes a financial penalty but also bans Araujo from playing Fortnite for life.

Epic shared the decision on social media through their Fortnite Competitive account, stating, “The judge ruled in our favor after the cheater ignored our lawsuit. The player is required to pay $175,000, and we’ll donate what we collect to charity.” The announcement has garnered praise from the gaming community, with many seeing it as a strong deterrent against future cheating.

Content creator NickEh30 and gaming news outlet ModernWarzone were among those who supported Epic’s decision on social media. This case continues a trend of Epic Games using legal measures to maintain competitive integrity in esports. Earlier this year, another player faced a similar fate after being banned for cheating in the Fortnite Championship Grand Finals.