Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers represents those who have developed an addiction to video games. Call us today for a free consultation if you or a loved one:
- Has been diagnosed by a doctor with a video game addiction
- Has been or is being treated for video game addiction
Our lawyers have been handling product liability cases such as video game addiction cases since 1990 and have recovered over $750,000,000 for clients. Our vast experience in handling product liability cases will allow us to recover the most compensation possible for you from major video game developers. We can help you recover financial compensation for medical expenses, emotional distress, lost quality of life, educational impacts, lost companionship, lost wages, lost future earnings and more.
We will handle your lawsuit against the gaming industry on a contingency fee basis, meaning we won’t charge any fee until and unless we recover financial compensation for you. You won’t owe us any upfront fee or out of pocket fee for us to handle your gaming addiction case, as our only fee is a percentage of whatever money we recover for you.
Call us today for a free consultation, fill out this page’s free case evaluation form or text us from this page if you or a loved one has developed an addiction to video games.
Overview of Video Game Addiction Lawsuits
Gaming addiction lawsuits have been filed by young people and their parents against video game developers. The lawsuits claim the games can cause mental health issues because they are addictive. The lawsuits allege the video game companies intentionally designed their games to be addictive, failing to warn players properly about risks associated with the games.
The lawsuits claim that:
- Video games are addictive and may cause conditions such as depression and internet gaming disorder
- Video games weren’t labeled properly about possible side effects
- Video games utilize psychological tools and tricks, artificial intelligence and algorithms in increase in-game purchases and play time
- The video game industry designed games intentionally to be addictive
- Video game companies failed to warn players properly about risks
- Video games lack safeguards which prevent excessive gaming
- Video game companies’ marketing tactics intentionally target vulnerable groups like teenagers and children
- Video game developers were negligent and caused emotional distress intentionally
People filing the lawsuits include:
- Young people and parents
- Those who have developed depression and addiction due to playing video games
Defendants in the lawsuits include major video game companies such as Activision Blizzard, Mojang Studios, Microsoft, Roblox Corporation, Rockstar Games, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Nintendo, and Epic Games.
Our product liability lawyers can help you file a video game addiction lawsuit seeking compensation for losses such as emotional, physical and mental harms, and can help you find investigators and medical experts. Call us today for a free consultation and more information.
Video Game Lawsuit Allegations Explained
Video game addiction lawsuits make numerous allegations against the gaming industry, including allegations involving:
Intentionally Addictive Features
Lawsuits allege that companies such as Epic Games, Activision Blizzard, Roblox Corporation and Rockstar Games developed certain game features to keep consumers addicted, spending and playing. Lawsuits claim the companies enlisted neuroscientists and behavioral psychologists to conduct research into how to make the games as addictive as they can, especially to young adults and minors. By making sure players are kept engaged and unable to stop gaming, the companies are alleged to intake continuous profit via microtransactions and additional predatory schemes.
It is alleged that some developers and publishers of video games even patented technologies and strategies designed to have games be more stimulating, addict players, encourage spending in-game and maximize play time.
Predatory Monetization
The lawsuits target microtransactions, involving real money being spent on content, premium features, upgrades, perks and in-game items.
Some games allow players to buy items which can be acquired by playing. This means players can choose to buy the items if they lack the time or skills to earn the items through gameplay. Other games, however, offer some content which cannot be obtained through any means but microtransactions.
Microtransactions can include purely cosmetic features, like skins that change the appearance of the player. However, game companies use microtransactions to lock up game content or make it difficult or impossible to advance if you don’t spend real money, according to lawsuits. For example, in some games, players’ progress may get slowed down by making specific items rarer or having access to some areas blocked off unless money gets spent.
Microtransactions are common in “free-to-play” video games like Fortnite, which allow players to spend money on in-game currency which they can then spend on hidden features or things which allow them to accumulate awards in-game and move through the game’s tiers in a quicker fashion. Microtransactions may also be found in games which cost money to play.
Lawsuits claim that microtransactions rely upon gamers’ impulsive behaviors as well as peer pressure in order to drive purchases. As an example, putting time limits on items can induce players to make rash decisions to purchase them. Lawsuits allege that players might also wish to purchase certain items so they can have it before their friends, or even use items to obtain higher ranks than their peers.
Lawsuits allege that certain games gather and use the data of individual players, like preferences related to games, spending habits and available funds, to change how paid offers get shown in order to make it more likely for people to buy things.
Loot boxes are popular gaming microtransactions. They can be bought repeatedly and contain random assortments of items. They do not require skill and are like lottery systems where players, even including minors, end up gambling, hoping to receive rare items with probabilities which can be as small as .08 percent. A lawsuit alleges that loot boxes lead to high profits for publishers and developers because players might have to purchase multiple boxes instead of a single purchase for a desired item.
Misleading Advertising
Lawsuits allege that video game companies, in their advertising, downplayed the risks of gaming, causing parents and children to make uninformed decisions that resulted in harm.
Failure to Warn
Lawsuits allege that video games lack warnings that they could pose unreasonable risks of addiction and harm to users, especially young adults and minors.
Fortnite is one game called out by lawsuits. The lawsuits claim that the game’s addictive properties are dangerous to young minds, leading to behavioral and health centers publishing resources aimed at parents which explicitly warn about addiction to Fortnite. In addition, a doctor who was studying how to use detoxification in the hospital to cure video game dependence noted that a teenager who ended up playing Fortnite as much as 20 hours each day suffered from addiction which was similar to addiction to chemical substances like cocaine and heroin. Despite concerns like these, Epic Games and other game developers failed to disclose risks they intentionally built into games, according to lawsuits.
In addition, it has been claimed that game publishers and developers could have changed the designs of games to make them not as addictive and minimize harms posed to their players such as by limiting in-game purchases by minors and blocking when games can be played.
Health Issues Linked to Video Game Addiction
Mental health issues which are related to gaming too much include:
- Depression
- Addiction
- Oppositional defiant disorder
- ADHD/ADD
- Gamer rage
- Internet gaming disorder
Physical health issues which are related to gaming too much include:
- Seizures
- Gamer’s thumb
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Computer vision syndrome
- Orthopedic injuries
- Suicide attempt
What Are the 9 Criteria for Internet Gaming Disorder?
Internet gaming disorder is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, according to the American Psychiatric Association. To be diagnosed with internet gaming disorder, a person needs to experience five or more of the following nine criteria within the time span of a year:
- Preoccupation: Being excessively interested in gaming
- Withdrawal: Going through negative symptoms when unable to play video games
- Tolerance: Having to spend additional time gaming in order to feel the same
- Unsuccessful attempts at control: Being unable to stop or reduce gaming
- Lost interest in other things: Giving up other forms of entertainment like hobbies in order to play video games
- Continual gaming despite issues: Continuing to game even when gaming causes problems
- Deceiving others: Telling lies about how much time one games
- Escape: Using gaming to escape real-life issues or relieve negative feelings
- Jeopardizing opportunities or relationships: Risking or losing relationships, jobs or educational opportunities because of gaming
How Many Hours of Gaming Is Considered an Addiction?
Gaming addiction is considered a mental health disorder. It can happen when people spend significant amounts of time playing video games. It may negatively impact peoples’ lives. People with gaming disorders might spend as little as eight hours per day playing video games, or may spend over 30 hours every week playing video games.
Gaming addiction may lead to sedentary lifestyles and additional health risks. Video games may trigger dopamine releases. Dopamine is a chemical which reinforces behavior.
While no consensus exists on how much gaming is too much, some think over five hours every day is excessive.
Which Video Games Are Being Sued?
Video games named in addiction lawsuits include, but are not limited to, Roblox, Fortnite, Rainbow Six, Grand Theft Auto 5, Call of Duty and Battlefield. Lawsuits in the future might name more titles.
Average Settlement of a Video Game Lawsuit
The value of a settlement you may be entitled to for video game addiction will depend upon the individual circumstances of your case.
Our attorneys are estimating that video game lawsuits in the highest tier of settlements may have values of $100k to $300k. Certain unique cases involving permanent injuries or death may be worth more. Cases at the lower end of settlements may have values of $25k to $90k.
The value of your case will depend on the individual damages you or your loved one suffered. We can help you recover financial compensation for:
Medical Bills
This includes costs which are related to medication, counseling, therapy or treatment of mental health conditions and physical injuries related to gaming too much. We can help you recover compensation for all past and future medical expenses related to gaming addiction.
Emotional Distress
This includes the psychological toll which gaming addiction takes on an individual, such as mental health struggles like depression or anxiety.
Educational Impacts
This includes compensation for educational programs or private tutoring necessary because of academic decline caused by excessive gaming.
Lost Quality of Life
This includes compensation for loss of participation in or enjoyment of family, recreational or social activities because of excessive gaming.
Loss of Wages or Future Earnings
This includes loss of future earning potential or job opportunities because of gaming addiction’s long-term effects.
Lost Companionship
This includes compensation for emotional strain placed upon family relationships due to gaming addiction.
Evidence in a Video Game Lawsuit
It is critical to collect strong evidence in order to prove that gaming addiction and harm are linked.
This evidence will demonstrate the addiction’s extent, its negative impacts, and practices that video game companies employed to make games addictive.
You need expert opinions and documentation to substantiate your case if you want your case to be strong.
Evidence in video game addiction lawsuits which our lawyers can help you collect might include:
Gaming History
Detailed reports or logs which show the number of hours spent gaming, which games were played, and information on the gamer, such as usernames.
Medical Records
Mental or physical health diagnosis documentation, such as diagnoses of gaming-related injuries such as depression or anxiety.
Psychological Evaluations
This includes expert opinions which diagnose conditions such as internet gaming disorder, as well as link the diagnoses to gaming habits.
Financial Records
This includes proof of microtransactions or in-game purchases which contribute to financial losses.
Expert Witness Testimony
This includes input from medical professionals or behavioral psychologists who explain how video game mechanics create gaming addiction.
Family Members’ Testimony
This includes statements from guardians or parents which describe behavioral changes, school issues or social withdrawal related to gaming addiction.
Signs That Your Child Suffers From Gaming Addiction
Signs that your child suffers from gaming addiction include:
Giving up Other Activities
This means giving up other responsibilities or hobbies to play video games. If you notice your child stops completing homework, seeing friends or doing other hobbies like sports, they could be addicted to video games.
Preoccupation With Gaming
Children who are addicted to gaming may spend 8-10 hours per day gaming, or 30 hours every week playing games.
Getting Emotional Over Video Games Being Removed
Your child may have an unhealthy addiction to video games if they become sad, anxious or hostile when you remove access.
Having to Spend Additional Time Gaming to Satisfy Urges
If your child is needing to spend increasing amounts of time gaming to feel satisfied, this is a sign of tolerance, an addiction sign.
Continuing Gaming Despite Issues
This means continuing to play video games despite being aware of issues like sleeping problems, always feeling tired, arguing more with family, failing to meet responsibilities, and feeling moody.
Inability to Stop Gaming
Children addicted to gaming may continue playing games for extended periods despite being aware they should play less.
Using Video Games to Relieve Bad Moods
Gaming may get used as an escape, or to relieve bad moods. This can set up dependence on gaming for feeling good.
Deceiving Family About Time Spent Gaming
If children try to hide or conceal the amount of time they spend gaming, or sneak access to video games behind parents’ backs, this is a sign of addiction.
Is Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers Filing A Class Action Lawsuit Against Video Game Companies?
Our law firm is not filing a class action lawsuit against video game companies. We are instead filing individual lawsuits on behalf of those who have been diagnosed with gaming addiction. We believe that we can recover more financial compensation for our clients by filing individual lawsuits than by filing a class action lawsuit.
Call us today for a free consultation if you are wondering whether an individual lawsuit or a class action lawsuit is right for you. We can advise you of the pros and cons of each and let you know which one would allow you to recover more financial compensation.
Contact a Video Game Addiction Lawyer Today
Call us today for a free consultation if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with gaming addiction and have been or are being treated for gaming addiction. We can help you recover financial compensation and won’t charge any fee until and unless we recover compensation for you. Call us today.
