Video Game Addiction Lawsuit

The manufacturers of several popular video games are being sued over claims that their products are designed to intentionally create addictive habits in their users, particularly children.

Video game lawsuits claim that certain games not only lead to addiction but even include mechanics intentionally designed to encourage addiction. Lawsuits also state some companies sought assistance from psychologists and scientists to design games to be as addictive as possible.

How Video Games Use Addictive Design Features

According to the Cleveland Clinic, video game addiction occurs when you can’t control your gaming habits. It can negatively affect your life, causing poor performance at work or school, a decreased social life and even withdrawal symptoms. Up to 10% of the U.S. population may have video game addiction.

“Defendants use traditional game tactics such as feedback loops and reward systems, along with patented designs containing addictive features and technology to ensure its users keep playing longer,” a lawsuit filed in Arkansas stated.

Microtransactions are common video game features that may play a role in addiction. These additional purchases allow you to unlock new features or tools to use in the game for an additional cost.

One common type of microtransaction is called a loot box. This is a randomized “box” of rewards you can purchase within the game. You don’t know how good a reward is until you open the box.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), there is a concern that loot boxes mimic and encourage gambling-like behavior in video game users, many of whom are children. The FTC also noted that this setup may encourage addictive spending patterns.

Lawsuits say that loot boxes and microtransactions are a hallmark of developing addictive tendencies in video game users.

“It is common knowledge that gambling addiction is a severe issue and a big risk when playing lottery-style games,” the Arkansas lawsuit says. “Combining these aspects with the psychologically addictive traits of video games is highly dangerous for players.”

The Mental Health Impact of Video Game Addiction

Video games can have serious mental health consequences, potentially impacting many aspects of your everyday life.

The World Health Organization recognizes gaming disorder, noting that it includes losing the ability to control how much time you spend playing video games and prioritizing gaming over other interests.

According to Harvard Medical School, video game addiction can lead to adverse health effects, including gaming preoccupation, withdrawal and the loss of professional or social opportunities. It can also include a cycle of playing video games to escape the pressures of stress or anxiety.

Children and teens can also experience these serious effects. According to the Pew Research Center, 85% of teens say that they play video games. Roughly 40% of teens say they play video games every day.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also reported that video games specifically target children while utilizing technology and surveillance data to encourage users to spend more money while playing.

While litigation remains in the early stages, parents have already filed lawsuits against numerous video game developers targeting some of the most popular video games on the market.

The lawsuits generally claim that certain video games encourage addictive behaviors in their users, but there are some key differences and arguments depending on the game.

Roblox Lawsuits Over In-Game Currency & Addiction Claims

Roblox, which is developed and maintained by Roblox Corporation, is an online platform that provides access to an extensive library of games, often created by other users.

Similar to other video games, lawsuits have focused on Roblox’s use of microtransactions, claiming the game’s makers use these tools to keep users engaged and continue to profit from them.

According to NPR, Roblox also only added significant safety features and parental controls in 2024 following criticism for lack of child safety protocols.

Fortnite Lawsuits: Addiction Claims & Psychological Manipulation

Fortnite is a video game produced by Epic Games where avatar versions of players are dropped on an island with weapons and supplies to battle each other.

It is a wildly popular game with hundreds of millions of active users. While Fortnite is free to play on many platforms, it relies heavily on a microtransaction model. Players can use “V-Bucks,” which can be purchased with real money, to buy a wide range of in-game items.

Lawsuits say that the game is highly addictive, claiming that studies have determined it to be more addictive than heroin and other illegal drugs.

“The addictive properties of Fortnite are so dangerous on young minds that several health and behavioral centers across the country have published resources for parents specifically warning about Fortnite addiction,” one lawsuit states.

Lawsuits cover the game’s bright colors and inviting graphics to keep players engaged, its format that encourages players to keep playing after near wins and its strategy of sprinkling in random rewards to players.

Fortnite has been the subject of legal issues in the past. Epic Games recently agreed to pay a settlement of $245 million in refunds to players over claims that they were tricked into spending money on the game.

Minecraft Lawsuits: Microtransactions & Consumer Protection Issues

Minecraft was developed by Mojang Studios, which Microsoft owns. It is a sandbox video game that gives users many choices regarding how they play. The game has been included in lawsuits over video game addiction.

“Defendants misrepresented Minecraft as safe for use by minors and young adults, even marketing the games as “educational” and for use in classrooms,” one lawsuit stated. “Despite knowing that, due to their own design, the games contained an inherent risk of abuse, addiction, and compulsive use by youth.”

Lawsuits claim that the game was designed to addict its users while benefiting from microtransactions similar to other games named in lawsuits.

Call of Duty Lawsuits: Violent Content & Psychological Impact

Call of Duty is a long-running video game series with many different titles and versions. Activision, Treyarch and Infinity Ward have all been involved in the development of the game and are all listed as defendants in lawsuits.

The shooter game simulates historical wars and others invented for the game. Players typically play as soldiers in various war situations.

Lawsuits say that the game was intentionally designed with addictive features, including level progressions that unlock new items and reward players who continue to return to the game and play more.

“The rewards built into the Call of Duty games are immediate and are a constant stream of progression, or feedback loop, that allows players to feel they are making constant progress toward unlocking everything in the whole game,” one lawsuit states.

Grand Theft Auto Lawsuits: Addictive Gameplay & Gambling Allegations

Similar to Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto is a series of video games that have been developed and released for years. A new version of the game is expected to debut this year.

It is an open-world game, meaning it takes place in a world that players can explore however they want. Usually, these games are set in a fictional city with various missions and activities for users to complete. The game emphasizes driving and users can select from many car types.

Lawsuits claim that the game is set up to intentionally lead to video game addiction in its users, encouraging them to continue playing the game by offering “endless arrays” of activities and challenges to keep the user from disengaging.

“At the expense of users’ mental and physical well-being, the GTA Defendants fail to inform the public, users, or parents that the game was designed to addict and harm users,” one lawsuit stated.

You or your child may qualify for a video game addiction lawsuit if video games have dramatically and negatively impacted your life due to their potentially addiction-encouraging features.

Lawsuits often include plaintiffs who play video games for many hours daily, adversely impacting other parts of their lives. They may require medication or therapy because of their addiction and might struggle to moderate how much time they spend playing video games.

How To Determine if Your Case Meets the Requirements

Legal teams may evaluate several different factors when assessing a video game addiction claim. You will likely need proof or a record of excessive video game behaviors.

Some consoles, like the PlayStation 5, may log how much time you or your child spent playing different video games. Your financial records may also show excessive or unauthorized in-game purchases through microtransactions and other similar features.

Records of any medical or psychological diagnoses related to video game addiction can also be helpful.

An experienced lawyer can help you file a video game addiction lawsuit if you qualify. You can sign up for a free case review through Consumer Notice to be contacted by a legal expert who can help determine whether you can file a case.

If you are considering filing a lawsuit, gather records to help your case. This includes information on how often you or your child plays video games, financial records related to in-game purchases and any video game addiction diagnoses.

What Compensation Can Plaintiffs Receive?

Plaintiffs who have filed video game addiction lawsuits are seeking several different types of damages.

Some lawsuits have pursued damages for loss of companionship and community because of the toll video game addiction can have on social well-being. Compensation for economic injuries is also sought in some litigation.

Additionally, claims have cited emotional distress, mental anguish and pain as a result of using certain video games designed to addict their users.

A motion was filed last year for video game addiction lawsuits to be combined into multidistrict litigation (MDL). MDLs allow similar lawsuits to move through the legal process together, allowing for a more streamlined approach and efficient outcomes.

However, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) chose not to consolidate the lawsuits, determining the individual cases involving various video games and claims were too unique.

“We conclude that centralization will not serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses or further the just and efficient conduct of the litigation,” the JPML said.

One video game addiction lawsuit was dismissed last summer. But, according to Reuters, the dismissal did not test the central theories of the litigation and was primarily due to a one-off issue with the plaintiff in question.

Given the potential impacts of video game addiction, it can be important for parents to focus on their children’s internet safety and limit or regulate the time their kids play video games.

Parents and players can combat video game addiction by understanding its signs. Common symptoms include problems at school or work due to gaming habits, using video games to combat bad moods, lying about frequency of play and not being able to reduce playing time.

It’s important to note that symptoms must usually be problematic enough to substantially impact other areas of your life for at least a year to receive a gaming addiction diagnosis.

Mitigation efforts are available for parents worried about their child’s video game habits. According to NPR, one method is to set boundaries and ensure that real-world activities like eating dinner together or doing chores aren’t overtaken by video game time.

How to Help Curb Your Child’s Video Game Habits

Some games and devices also include parental controls that you can use to limit screen time or access to certain types of content.