Rabat – Three Canadian parents are taking legal action against Epic Games, the gaming giant behind popular video game Fortnite, alleging the game is deliberately designed to make children addicted.
According to converging reports, a Canadian judge has allowed a class-action lawsuit against Epic Games.
In the court filings, the parents say that their children are addicted to the game to the point where they would give up on sleeping, eating, and showering to continue playing, according to a report from BB.
The filing further cites the World Health Organization’s recognition of video game addiction in 2018.
Responding to the allegations, Epic Games said that it provides parents with “industry-leading parental controls that empower parents to supervise their child’s digital experience.”
In a statement quoted in converging reports, the gaming company added that “Parents can receive playtime reports that track the amount of time their child plays each week, and require parental permission before purchases are made.”
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The lawsuit argues that the game is developed to be addictive, and draws a comparison between video games and tobacco addiction. One of the plaintiffs’ children spent over 7,700 hours playing the game in less than two years.
According to the BBC report, the judge overseeing the case said that other parents in Quebec can join the lawsuit against the company.
Fortnite is an open-source game, meaning users can download and play it for free. However, the game includes in-game purchases.
The company reportedly made over $5.8 billion through in-game purchases in 2021 alone.
