An Arkansas family is suing a multitude of video game companies, including Activision Blizzard, Microsoft, and Epic, accusing them of enabling game addiction in minors.
According to a report from Insider Gaming (via GamesIndustry.biz), the complaint was filed on October 30. An Arkansas mother filed the suit on behalf of her child--referred to as G.D. in the suit. The filing claims G.D. plays games over a dozen hours a day and has spent thousands on microtransactions. The suit seeks damages for injuries related to G.D.'s addiction (pain in his hands, shoulders, and elbow), related health care costs, statuary and punitive damages, and legal fees.
The suit claims 14 counts of action, including negligence for not warning users of games' addictive qualities, deceit, and violation of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act. It names a variety of tactics video game companies allegedly use to addict minors, such as 'rubber-banding,' loot boxes, and pay-to-win transactions.
The suit cites 16 patents it claims are evidence of the intention to drive minors to addiction for profit. The cited patents include a customized messaging patent from Activision, which uses players' behavioral data to write personalized messages promoting microtransactions, and an EA patent for allowing new players to purchase in-game bonuses and protection more cheaply than seasoned ones. A patent doesn't necessarily mean the material patented will be directly implemented in a product, but the suit claims that "several patents shed light on the innovative video game monetization invented to nudge users into making in-game purchases."
"Defendants manufactured, published, marketed, and sold video games, including those played by G.D., that Defendants had specifically developed and designed to cause the addiction experienced by G.D. and other users," the suit says.
In a press release, Tina Bullock, a lawyer with Bullock Ward Mason representing the plaintiffs, gave the following statement: "Gaming addiction is a serious, life-altering disorder that is stealing children’s lives and disrupting families across the country. Parents like me often mistakenly think it is a failure on their part when their child becomes addicted, but through this litigation we hope to shine a light on these companies' reprehensible actions, deceit, and manipulation of our children for their own financial gain."
The press release also claims this is the first suit of its kind and that "more will be filed in the coming weeks."
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