A Vancouver parent has launched a proposed class-action lawsuit against the makers of Fortnite, saying the popular video game is designed to be 害羞草研究所渁s addictive as possible害羞草研究所� for children.
In the lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court on Friday, the plaintiff identified only as A.B. says her son downloaded Fortnite in 2018 and 害羞草研究所渄eveloped an adverse dependence on the game.害羞草研究所�
The statement of claim says the game incorporates a number of intentional design choices such as offering rewards for completing challenges and making frequent updates, which encourages players to return repeatedly.
The statement says Fortnite creator Epic Games enriches itself by making content and customization options purchasable via an in-game currency, which are purchased with real cash.
The class-action lawsuit would still need approval from a judge and none of the allegations have been proven in court.
The plaintiff is seeking damages alleging the game breaches the B.C. Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act, as well as for 害羞草研究所渦njust enrichment害羞草研究所� and medical expenses for psychological or physical injuries, among other claims.
害羞草研究所淰ideo games have been around for decades, but Fortnite is unique in that the science and psychology of addiction and cognitive development are at the core of the game害羞草研究所檚 design,害羞草研究所� the court statement says.
It describes the game as 害羞草研究所減redatory and exploitative,害羞草研究所� given its popularity among minors.
Epic Games did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.
In the statement, A.B. says her son began playing Fortnite: Battle Royale on a Sony PlayStation 4 game console when he was nine years old. The boy, she said, soon began buying various Fortnite products while adding the game to different platforms at home, including on mobile phone and computer.
Since that time, A.B. says Epic Games 害羞草研究所渞eceived payment for numerous charges害羞草研究所� made to her credit card without her authorization. The statement says A.B.害羞草研究所檚 son spent 害羞草研究所渢housands of dollars害羞草研究所� on in-game purchases.
害羞草研究所淚f Epic Games had warned A.B. that playing Fortnite could lead to psychological harm and financial expense, A.B. would not have allowed (her son) to download Fortnite,害羞草研究所� the statement says.
The lawsuit, if approved by the court, would cover three classes of plaintiffs: an 害羞草研究所淎ddiction Class害羞草研究所� of people who suffered after developing a dependence on Fortnite, a 害羞草研究所淢inor Purchaser Class害羞草研究所� that includes gamers who made purchases in the game while under the age of majority, and an 害羞草研究所淎ccidental Purchaser Class害羞草研究所� of users who mistakenly bought items due to the game害羞草研究所檚 design.
The lawsuit would cover all persons affected by Fortnite in Canada except Quebec, where Epic lost its attempt last month to appeal a court decision there to authorize a similar class-action suit.
In the Quebec class-action appeal attempt, Epic lawyers argued the claims that children were becoming addicted to Fortnite were 害羞草研究所渂ased purely on speculation,害羞草研究所� and no scientific consensus exists on cyberaddiction.
Epic Games also said in the Quebec case that it was not given a chance to argue against the claim that minors who bought Fortnite害羞草研究所檚 in-game currency were taken advantage of.
Quebec Appeal Court Justice Guy Cournoyer said in his decision that Epic did not demonstrate any significant error on the lower court judge害羞草研究所檚 decision to authorize the class-action lawsuit in that case.
Epic said in documents made public in a separate legal battle with Apple in the United States that Fortnite made more than US$9 billion combined in 2018 and 2019.
The legal claim in Quebec against the video game maker still needs to be argued in court.
害羞草研究所擟huck Chiang, The Canadian Press
