Many parents come to us feeling like they no longer recognize their child – once active and outgoing, now isolated and suffering from mental and physical health issues. Video game addiction has changed the children they once knew.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to do, you’re not alone – at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers, we can help. By taking legal action, you can hold gaming companies accountable and seek justice for the harm done to your family.
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 lawsuit 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 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 at today at (866) 788-1599 or fill out our quick contact form for a FREE consultation 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 the developers of video games such as Minecraft and Fortnite. 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 to 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.
Who Qualifies to File a Video Game Addiction Lawsuit?
You may qualify to file a lawsuit if you or your child:
- Started gaming prior to the age of 18
- Played video games after the year 2015
- Are currently 25 years old or younger
- Played video games for at least two hours per day for at least five consecutive weeks
- Sought counseling or medical care for adverse effects
- Have records demonstrating disruption of education (504/IEP/dropout)
- Have proofs of purchase or microtransaction participation
- Played video games for at least 70 hours over a period of five weeks
Qualifying games include:
- Roblox
- Fortnite
- Grand Theft Auto
- Call of Duty
- Rainbow Six
- Battlefield
- Diablo
- Minecraft
- Dead by Daylight
- Apex Legends
- Overwatch
- World of Warcraft
- Others with pay-to-win/loot boxes/microtransactions
Qualifying platforms include:
- Xbox
- Playstation
- PC/Steam
- Nintendo Switch
- Steam
- Mobile app stores (as well as related subscription services)
Injuries covered include:
- A diagnosis of gaming addiction
- ODD
- ADD/ADHD
- Withdrawal/gamer’s rage
- Brain-scan changes
- Attempted suicide
- Suicide
- Academic decline
- Social withdrawal
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Physical conditions such as computer-vision syndrome, gamer’s thumb, carpal tunnel, etc.)
Potential defendants include:
- Epic
- Roblox
- Activision
- Microsoft
- Ubisoft
- Take-Two
- Nintendo
- Sony
- EA
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
- Social isolation
- Increased suicide risk
Physical health issues which are related to gaming too much include:
- Seizures
- Gamer’s thumb
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Computer vision syndrome
- Orthopedic injuries
- Obesity
- Musculoskeletal issues
Internet gaming disorder can lead to life events such as:
- Poor school/work performance
- Lost relationships
- Family conflicts
- Hospitalization
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.
How Common Is Internet Gaming Disorder?
A 2024 meta-analysis, following adjustments for publication bias, found a 3.3 percent global prevalence of Internet Gaming Disorder.
Another meta-analysis found a prevalence of 3.3 percent.
Around three quarters of United States children regularly play video games. Assuming a 3.3 percent addiction rate, there may be millions of United States children suffering from Internet Gaming Disorder.
Which Video Games Are Being Sued?
Video games named in addiction lawsuit cases 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 cases with the highest potential value are cases involving suicide, attempted suicide or mental hospitalization.
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
A growing crisis of addiction to video games, especially among young people, is being fueled by harmful, deliberate design choices that companies like Epic Games and Microsoft are making. A central part of the business plans of these companies is getting young people addicted to games, as time spent in-game drives revenue. The injuries being suffered by young people aren’t minor. The injuries are ranging from violence and physical harm to suicide, depression or educational disruption. A lot of the injuries are permanent or have consequences which are lasting.
Call us today at (866) 788-1599 for a FREE consultation or fill out our quick contact form 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 we recover compensation for you.
Video Game Addiction Lawsuit Updates
August 4, 2026 Update
A lawsuit filed on July 24 in Mississippi by a Mississippi man claims that Fortnite, the PlayStation platform and Minecraft were intentionally designed with addictive features which caused the man to develop compulsive gaming behaviors starting at the age of four.
The lawsuit names Mojang AB, Microsoft Corp., Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC and Epic Games Inc. as defendants.
The lawsuit alleges that these companies prioritized profit over safety by incorporating engagement features like feedback loops and reward systems they knew would cause children to become addicted to video games.
The lawsuit alleges the man started playing games made by the defendants at the age of four, continuing to use Minecraft, Fortnite and the PlayStation platform at an addictive, compulsive and uncontrollable pace.
The lawsuit claims that the defendants intentionally designed their products in order to exploit kids’ vulnerabilities by encouraging prolonged gameplay without the implementation of adequate parental controls, warnings or proper tools to limit how much time minors could spend playing the games.
The lawsuit alleges the defendants knew that longer playing sessions meant greater revenue, but continued to add features meant to maximize engagement instead of reduce addiction.
The complaint claims the man suffered ongoing damages and injuries due to compulsive gaming, seeking to hold the defendants accountable for allegedly putting profit ahead of safety.
The lawsuit cites decades of research which has examined the effects of excessive gaming, claiming studies have associated compulsive gaming with changes in brain development, depression, anxiety, impaired impulse control, sleep disturbances, social isolation and additional physical and psychological harms.
Research has indicated that the prefrontal cortex continues to develop into the mid-20’s. The lawsuit claims this makes kids especially vulnerable to video game designs which reward immediate gratification and repetitive play.
June 7, 2026 Update
A lawsuit filed in Pennsylvania on May 27 by a Mississippi family alleges that a 12-year-old boy ended up with psychological and neurological harm due to becoming addicted to Minecraft, Fortnite and Roblox.
The lawsuit names Mojang AB, Microsoft Corporation, Epic Games and Roblox Corporation as defendants.
The lawsuit alleges that games made by those companies were intentionally designed to addict children via behavioral conditioning systems that are manipulative.
According to the lawsuit, the boy started playing the games in 2021 at the age of eight, quickly developing an addiction.
The lawsuit claims the boy often played for over 10 hours per day and was unable to stop playing the games despite serious behavioral and emotional consequences.
The lawsuit alleges that the games had features designed to cause addiction, including:
- Social interaction features
- Feedback loops
- Randomized challenges
- Reward systems
The lawsuit claims that the boy ended up developing:
- Suicidal ideation
- Diminished social interaction
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Nightmares
- Behavioral issues
- “Gamer’s rage”
It is alleged the boy threatened to harm himself with a kitchen knife after losing access to the games.
The lawsuit claims the boy continues to play these games for six to 10 hours per day despite getting therapy.
The lawsuit accuses the defendants of enlisting psychiatrists and psychologists to incorporate operant conditioning into their games in order to cause children to develop gaming addictions.
February 4, 2026 Update
A lawsuit filed in Mississippi on January 27 alleges that Sony, Microsoft, Epic Games and Mojang Studios intentionally designed games and consoles to foster addiction, leading to young people developing mental health problems.
While previous lawsuits have focused on games causing young people to develop addictions, this lawsuit is notable because it alleges that consoles as well as games are causing addiction.
The complaint claims that the plaintiff was 10 years old when he started playing video games, quickly acquiring an addiction to gaming which has advanced at a compulsive, uncontrollable and increasing pace.
The lawsuit alleges this has left the plaintiff incapable of restricting his playing time, and that this was intended by the video game and console makers.
The lawsuit alleges the gaming industry has been aware of the causes and risks of gaming addiction for multiple decades, in addition to the possible resulting emotional and physical deficits, cognitive decline and brain damage.
The complaint claims that instead of designing consoles and games to avoid these risks, the defendants embraced the risks.
The lawsuit alleges that the makers of the consoles and games chose not to include simple safety features such as adequate warnings, opt-in time limits or parental controls.
The complaint alleges that the defendant has been left with mental health problems including a gaming addiction, diminished social interactions and withdrawal symptoms.
January 8, 2026 Update
Lawsuit Claims Video Game Addiction Caused Structural Changes in Child’s Brain
A lawsuit filed on December 30 in California by a Louisiana mother alleges that prolonged exposure to online video games might have caused her child’s brain to develop structural changes leading to emotional dysregulation, compulsive behavior and possibly long-term neurological damage.
The lawsuit names Microsoft Corporation, Roblox Corporation, Epic Games Inc. and other entities as defendants.
The lawsuit alleges that the child ended up developing internet gaming disorder after being exposed to games like Fortnite and Roblox for years, mostly played via Xbox consoles.
The lawsuit claims that her child developed compulsive gaming behavior which was driven via reward-based features which exploit developing brains’ dopamine pathways.
The lawsuit alleges that the child gradually started exhibiting growing symptoms such as trouble disengaging from gaming, anxiety, irritability, withdrawal symptoms and lost impulse control.
The lawsuit cites neuroimaging studies that indicate that those with the disorder experience changes in parts of the brain which are associated with reward processing, emotional regulatoin and decision-making, alleging that the child likely experienced similar changes due to the gaming products in question.
The lawsuit alleges the defendants knew or should have known that their games could cause these effects, especially in young people.
The lawsuit claims that Xbox platforms, Fortnite and Roblox utilize features which maximize engagement and screen time, contending these features displace real-world relationships, sleep and school while overriding natural stopping cues.
The lawsuit alleges the companies utilized young users’ behavioral data to refine systems which reinforce addiction.
The lawsuit accuses the companies of not adequately warning parents about excessive gaming’s risks even though growing research links heavy screen exposure with psychological and neurological harm in children.
Study Finds Video Game Addiction Can Lead to Overspending
A study published in Addictive Behaviors found that 14 percent of those who play video games could be at risk of ending up with a gaming disorder which makes them more likely to spend too much money while playing.
The study found that those at risk of developing a gaming disorder are six to nine times as likely to report that they overspent on video games.
The study found that younger adults are way more likely to spend too much on gaming than older gamers. Those between the ages of 18 and 40 reported the most overspending on money-based bets, in-game purchases and buying games, and adults over the age of 66 saw the lowest rates.
It was found by the study that around 14 percent of study participants were at risk of developing gaming disorder and were significantly more likely to spend too much across every category.
Those who played video games every day for three or more hours had the highest chance of reporting overspending, especially those who engaged in gaming sessions exceeding six hours. Those who never played video games for over three hours at once rarely reported spending too much.
December 30, 2025 Update
The United States Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has refused to consolidate every federal video game addiction lawsuit before a single judge.
September saw a request to create a video game addiction MDL, focusing upon claims limited to three games: Fortnite, Roblox and Minecraft.
The panel found that centralization wouldn’t serve the convenience of the witnesses and parties or further the efficient, just conduct of the litigation.
The panel stated that they remain concerned that the litigation’s scope may grow too large, and quickly, as plaintiffs playing different games on multiple platforms, in addition to the three games the MDL request focused on, file additional actions.
The panel stated that they aren’t persuaded that the litigation won’t grow to encompass a huge tangle of products and defendants, and that there is a risk that if an MDL were created, it would be too unwieldy for a single judge to manage.
The panel noted that many plaintiffs have named unspecified defendants, making it possible that they’ll amend their lawsuits to include new defendants, gaming platforms and games.
The panel noted that even if the lawsuits don’t name other defendants, other gaming platforms, games and companies might still be relevant to a causation inquiry.
The panel stated that the plaintiffs failed to persuade them that the three games are unique enough from other games for future plaintiffs to limit complaints to allegations about only those games.
June 30, 2025 Update
A new study suggests that about four percent of children in fourth grade through eighth grade might be experiencing sub-clinical or clinical signs of internet gaming disorder. The study raises concerns about the long-lasting, wide-ranging side effects which video game additions might have on young Americans’ mental health.
The study also found that about 10 percent of children have a high to moderate risk of developing addiction to smartphones.
Internet gaming disorder involves people playing online video games so much and with such little control that the games start taking over their life, leading to them ignoring important responsibilities, even following negative consequences.
The study found that 1.2 percent of the surveyed children met internet gaming disorder’s criteria, and another 2.7 percent met the disorder’s sub-clinical level.
The researchers said that the findings suggest a need for more research into potential interventions, including behavior management strategies and parent education.
April 17, 2025 Update
On April 11, a Petition for Coordination and a Request for Stay were granted in California JCCP5363: Videogame Addiction Cases. The petition and request were regarding six different video game addiction cases filed in California.
Coordination lets two or more cases which share common questions of law or fact which are pending in separate counties to be joined in a single court. Coordination can serve the convenience of counsel, witnesses and parties as well as the efficient usage of judicial resources.
The cases were deemed to be “complex cases,” which are cases which require “exceptional” management so unnecessary burdens aren’t placed on litigants or the court and so the case is expedited, costs are kept reasonable, and effective decision making by the counsel, parties and court are promoted.
The Court recommended that a Coordination Trial Judge get assigned from Los Angeles Superior Court’s Complex Litigation Panel.
The Court stayed all of the coordinated cases pending a Coordination Trial Judge’s assignment.
