Major Game Companies Face Lawsuit Over Video Game Addiction
Microsoft, EA, Activision, Ubisoft, and Epic Games, along with some of their studios, are facing a lawsuit filed by an Arkansas family accusing them of enabling video game addiction. The lawsuit alleges that these companies have deliberately developed and designed games to cause addiction in order to generate high profits. The plaintiff, on behalf of her 13-year-old child, claims that the child plays video games for 12 to 14 hours a day, primarily Fortnite, Rainbow Six: Siege, Battlefield, and Call of Duty, and has spent around $3,000 on in-game transactions and downloadable content. The lawsuit seeks damages for injuries sustained by the child, economic loss, statutory and punitive damages, and legal fees. The complaint also details various microtransactions and monetization schemes, including loot boxes and pay-to-win transactions, that the plaintiff believes contribute to minors' addiction to video games.