"Game Developers Assert Immunity from Lawsuits Over 'Addictive' Gameplay"
Major game developers, including Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, Roblox, Epic Games, and Rockstar, are facing lawsuits alleging that their games intentionally create addiction. The developers argue that games are a form of expression protected by the First Amendment and that finding their games "too entertaining" is not a valid reason to limit constitutionally protected speech. The lawsuits claim that games like Fortnite, Call of Duty, and Minecraft use addictive features to hook players, leading to detrimental impacts on mental and physical health. The developers have motioned for the cases to go to arbitration, while the plaintiffs await a decision on whether the pre-trial proceedings of the six similar addiction cases will be consolidated.
