Video games are more popular than ever and are a growing source of entertainment for all age groups. But recent lawsuits have accused video game companies of intentionally designing games to encourage addictive and negative behaviors. Litigators and legal experts are considering the possibility of suing gaming companies for emotional harm and financial exploitation.
If your child has suffered psychological or emotional harm from video game addiction, you deserve answers. Gaming companies should be held to the same standard as other manufacturers and should be held responsible when their products cause avoidable harm.
Contact a lawyer from John Foy & Associates today to speak to a video game addiction lawsuit lawyer about your case. Our attorneys have recovered over $1 billion in compensation.
How Video Game Addiction Manifests
Video game addiction manifests as compulsive gaming behaviors that impact one’s mental well-being, daily life, and social relationships. Gaming addiction can show itself in negative mental states (like anxiety or depression) as well as harmful and compulsive behaviors (e.g., binge playing).
Common signs of gaming addiction include:
- Constant preoccupation with thoughts of gaming
- Compulsive playing for several hours per session
- Physical injury from excessive playing (e.g., carpal tunnel, neck issues, etc.)
- Withdrawal and agitation when not playing games
- Excessive spending on in-game or in-app purchases
- Lying or deceiving others about gaming usage
- Severe fatigue from sleep disturbances
- Failed attempts to reduce or stop playing
- Ignoring personal hygiene and health
- Poor academic performance
- Neglecting professional and social responsibilities or obligations (e.g., going to work)
Compulsive gaming or “internet gaming disorder” is a real mental health condition identified by global health organizations. Studies show that the neurobiological mechanisms underlying gaming addiction share much in common with those underlying substance abuse and gambling addictions.
Gaming Companies are Accused of Engaging in Exploitative Practices
Many large gaming companies have been accused of intentionally designing their games to encourage compulsive and addictive behavior, particularly in children and other vulnerable groups.
Game design elements like loot boxes, microtransactions, and daily reward systems are claimed to increase addictive gaming behavior and lead to emotional and financial difficulties.
Gaming companies have come under fire for purportedly exploitative practices, such as:
- Failing to warn parents about the risks of gaming to children
- Using psychological manipulation and tactics to boost gaming engagement and frequency
- Excessively promoting microtransactions or in-game purchases
- Offering “daily rewards” and other time-limited benefits to promote compulsive behavior
- Loot boxes and other chance-based mechanics that may encourage gambling
- Intentionally designing addictive mechanics to keep players engaged
- Exposing children to harmful content through game chats and message boards
Games are a product, and gaming companies make more money the more people engage with their products. Thus, it stands to reason that gaming companies have an incentive to design their games to maximize engagement.
These lawsuits accuse gaming companies of exploiting human psychology and purposefully making their games as addictive as possible.
Am I Eligible to File a Lawsuit for Video Game Addiction?
If your child or teenager has developed symptoms of internet gaming disorder, you may be able to file a lawsuit against developers.
Many children begin playing video games at a young age as a form of recreation. However, young players are more susceptible to manipulation, and there is evidence that gaming companies target impressionable youths to maximize engagement.
These lawsuits give specific attention to video games that utilize addictive progression systems that incentivize and reward compulsive playing, such as:
- Fortnite
- Call of Duty
- Overwatch
- World of Warcraft (WoW)
- League of Legends (LoL)
- Defense of the Ancients 2 (Dota 2)
- Genshin Impact
- Grand Theft Auto Online
Most current lawsuits for video game addiction focus on the impact on younger players (under 22 years old). If you are unsure about whether your case qualifies, you can get in touch with a video game addiction lawsuit lawyer from John Foy & Associates to discuss your options.
Legal Theories for Video Game Addiction Lawsuits
Video game addiction lawsuits and settlements are still working their way through the courts, but there are several legal theories that they present to hold companies liable:
- Product liability. Video games are products, and product manufacturers can be liable for products that have intentionally dangerous designs. Video game mechanics that promote compulsive playing behaviors may be considered a defective product.
- Failure to warn. There are also legal arguments that video game manufacturers have a duty to warn consumers about the potential harms of gaming. Lawsuits claim gaming companies have not sufficiently labeled their products with warnings.
- Negligence. Negligence-based theories of liability accuse manufacturers of violating their duty of care to consumers by intentionally using mechanics and practices to promote harmful behaviors.
- Deceptive practices. Lawsuits could also attack companies for withholding information about business practices, like hiding or downplaying the financial nature of microtransactions and in-app purchases.
Lawyers for Video Game Addiction Lawsuits: John Foy & Associates
Gaming companies have escaped scrutiny from the public for some time, but perceptions concerning gaming companies’ responsibility to players have changed.
If you believe that you or your child has been harmed by harmful gaming company practices, contact John Foy & Associates today to schedule a free case consultation with a video game addiction lawsuit attorney.
