Video Game Addiction Lawsuit – February 2025 Update

Individuals are filing product liability lawsuits against companies like Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, Roblox, Nintendo, Epic Games, Infinity Ward, Rockstar North Limited, and Apple, Inc. because children and young adults are developing video gaming addictions and experiencing adverse effects on their mental and physical health. Young adults and parents are filing individual lawsuits against video game developers in civil court. These lawsuits allege these companies designed their games to be addictive and did not do enough to protect young people.

Video Game Addiction Lawsuit Timeline & News – February 2025

December 19, 2024: Up to 10% of Adolescents in Western Countries May Be Addicted for Online Games 

Frontiers in Psychology published a study called, “Diagnostic Contribution of the DSM-5 Criteria for Internet Gaming Disorder.” In this study, the authors noted that 1% to 10% of kids in Western countries who are ages 12 to 19 may be addicted to video games. Additionally, the authors suggested the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) update its entry on internet gaming disorder.

December 10, 2024: Metanalysis Finds 6.8% of Male Adolescents May Be Addicted to Video Games

A study called, “Patterns and Predictors of Internet Gaming Disorder: An Observational Study from Jordan” examined data from multiple scientific studies from across the globe. That analysis found that up to 6.8% of adolescent males may be afflicted with internet gaming disorder (ISD). People suffering from IGD may develop social, behavioral, or aggression problems, which raises concerns about youth addiction to video games.  

September 25, 2024: WHO Issues Report About Teen Screen Time and Mental Health

A warning statement released by the World Health Organization found that 12% of adolescents are at risk of problematic gaming. These results were taken from the “Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC)” study that examined data from more than 280,000 teenages across 44 countries. Other concerning findings from the study were that a third of adolescents played digital games every day and approximately 1 in 5 played for at least 4 hours on days that they gamed. The study noted that many youth experience problematic consequences from their disordered use of video games.

May 2019: World Health Organization Includes Internet Gaming Disorder as a Recognized Health Condition

In May 2019, the World Health Organization included Internet Gaming Disorder in its International Classification—a list of recognized global health conditions. The WHO describes internet gaming disorder as a type of video game use that is excessive and significantly disrupts multiple areas of someone’s life for at least one year. 

October 2018: Study Shows Video Game Addictions Increase a Child’s Loneliness

A 2018 study of computer game addiction surveyed 205 fourth- and fifth-grade students to understand their video game usage and addiction and how it impacts their mental health. Researchers found that developing and engaging with a video game addiction worsened a child’s feelings of loneliness. Many children may go to these games as a way to escape and help self-treat feelings of loneliness, which might create a vicious and harmful cycle of dependence.

May 15, 2017: Researchers Explore a Scale To Diagnose and Measure a Child’s Video Game Addiction

In May of 2017, researchers published an article exploring how video game usage by children can rise to the level of an addiction. They encouraged the development of a formal diagnostic tool to identify whether a child has a gaming disorder. The authors noted that many features of video games—like a means of escape, social connection, rewards, and endless play—make them attractive and, in some cases, addicting. 

2013: American Psychological Association Encourages More Research on Internet Gaming Disorder

In 2013, the American Psychological Association issued a letter encouraging additional research on internet gaming disorder. The APA noted the increased use of video games and acknowledged that excessive gaming can lead to a diagnosable addiction rather than a mere habit. However, the APA has not yet included internet gaming disorder as a formal diagnosis because researchers are still exploring its impacts and possible diagnostic criteria.

What are the Video Game Addiction Lawsuits About?

Lawsuits claim that children and young people are developing damaging video game addictions because of the design of games like Call of Duty, Roblox, Fortnite, Minecraft, and Grand Theft Auto. Parents and advocates say these games prey on young people’s impressionable nature, hardwired need for social approval, and difficulty with impulse control. Young people or their parents are suing to recover losses they suffered due to depression, anxiety, gamer’s rage, and other mental health disturbances. 

Video Game Addiction Lawsuit Information
Main Injuries:	Addiction, depression, anxiety, gamer’s rage, mood disturbances
Defendants:	Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, Roblox, Nintendo, Epic Games, Infinity Ward, Rockstar North Limited, Apple, Inc.
Mass tort or class action?	Individual lawsuits that may develop into a class action or mass tort
Court Name (Venue):	Multiple jurisdictions across the United States
Have There Been Settlements?	No
Active Lawsuit?	Yes

Why Are People Filing Video Game Addiction Lawsuits?

Young people and their parents or guardians are suing because the addictive design of video games—like Fortnite, Minecraft, Roblox, and Call of Duty—caused young people to experience mental health disturbances and physical injuries. Symptoms that children, adolescents, and young adults with an internet gaming addiction may include depression, anxiety, aggression, lack of interest in other activities, and disconnection. 

Because of their uncontrollable drive to play video games, addicted children and young adults may spend less time engaging in activities that bring them joy outside gaming. Additionally, many of these youths are struggling or failing in school, which is causing them and their families to suffer emotionally, socially, and financially. 

The design of these games can override someone’s ability to limit the time they spend gaming. Instead, individuals feel an uncontrollable urge to play even more and may choose to quit other real-life activities. Many people filing lawsuits hope to secure financial relief for their families and inspire the regulatory change needed to protect future children from these harms.

Allegations Against Video Game Manufacturers 

Parents and young people accuse video game manufacturers—like Microsoft and Apple—of intentionally creating addictive video games to maximize profits. For example, features like loot boxes, microtransactions, vibrant and compelling graphics, and variable rewards may encourage over-engagement. In the context of social media and gambling addictions, variable rewards can lead to habitual and compulsive use in much the same way that drug or casino-style gambling can.

Parents, advocates, and young adults believe tech companies knew the risks and failed to warn the public. Instead, they believe these organizations chose to continue to create addictive games that kept user engagement high even though the products caused the mental health of youth to suffer. Meanwhile, these companies were often increasing their profits.

Whom Are People Video Game Addiction Lawsuits Against?

People are filing lawsuits against the companies that made, sold, hosted, and designed the addictive video games. Here are some of the defendants listed in the video game addiction lawsuits:

Information for some of the defendants is listed below. These video game software companies continue to design and sell games that may have harmful impacts on the mental health of young people in the United States. 

Defendant: Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is a top-performing technology company in the United States. Microsoft creates and sells physical products—e.g., computers, gaming consoles, and accessories. Additionally, it designs software—like apps, video games, and processing programs. Microsoft owns the Xbox platform, which hosts popular games like Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, and Fortnite. 

Defendant: Activision Blizzard

Activision Blizzard creates and sells video games that people can play for free or for payment. Blizzard Activision owns Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Overwatch. According to  Activision Blizzard’s Quarter 1 numbers in 2023, an average of 243 million people played their products per month.  In 2024, Call of Duty was the second most successful video gaming platform, with 500 million total sales of its products worldwide.

Defendant: Roblox

According to the quarter-three numbers for 2024, Roblox boasted about 88.9 million daily active users. In quarter three of 2023, Roblox recorded 20.7 billion engagement hours. The Roblox platform includes a suite of ever-changing games that children and young adults can play for free. Players can make in-game purchases to upgrade their in-app tools, skins, and resources or speed up actions.

Defendant: Nintendo

Nintendo began as a playing card business in Japan in 1889 and has grown to become an international gaming platform that creates software and physical devices—like the Nintendo Switch, Wii, and Game Boy—used by millions worldwide. Some of Nintendo’s popular games include the Mario and Legend of Zelda worlds, along with Animal Crossing and Pokémon.  

Defendant: Epic Games

Epic Games is a software company that designs and sells video games. Epic’s roster of gaming options includes Fortnite, Fall Guys, and Rocket Racing. Epic boasts about 800 million user accounts and 6 billion friend connections across several offerings.

Defendant: Rockstar North Limited

Rockstar North is the company behind the Grand Theft Auto series and became part of Rockstar Games in 1999. Rockstar North devotes significant time and resources to building upon and updating the award-winning GTA gaming series. 

Defendant: Apple, Inc.

Apple is a leading technology company that offers products such as laptops, desktops, headphones, cellphones, tablets, speakers, televisions, and a wide range of software. Users can download a range of games, some of which are casino-style and may lead to addiction. 

What Is the Status of Video Game Addiction Lawsuits?

The video game lawsuit is in its early stages. Parents and guardians are starting to sue big technology companies like Microsoft, Nintendo, Rockstar, Epic Games, and Blizzard Activision. They claim these organizations designed and sold products that caused their children to develop gaming addictions that negatively impacted their emotional, social, academic, and financial well-being.

Why Are Some Video Games Addictive?

Video game manufacturers design video games to be fun, intriguing, and engrossing. Unfortunately, many of the features that make video games popular, interesting, and financially lucrative can also make the games addictive. Some of the design features that can make video games addictive to children, teens, and young adults are:

• Microtransactions
• Loot boxes
• Engagement loops
• Vibrant advertising
• Limited-time offers
• Rewards-based systems

These features are intended to keep people playing and immersed in the game. However, these features have proven to harm the development and bodies of many young people.

How is Video Game Addiction Defined?

In recent years, video game addictions have received recognition from many reputable organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO). Generally speaking, the WHO describes a gaming disorder as a pattern of video game usage that feels compulsory to the point where it negatively impacts multiple areas of someone’s life for at least 12 consecutive months. For example, someone’s personal, social, academic, professional, or family life may be significantly impacted by their gaming addiction. The American Psychological Association’s research appendix to the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders acknowledged and encouraged further studies into possible diagnostic and treatment criteria for internet gaming disorder. 

Groups With Highest Risk for Video Game Addiction

People who are most at risk of developing video game addictions include children, teenagers, those struggling with their mental health, minors with unrestricted gaming access, and people seeking social validation and community. Research also shows that being assigned male at birth and being young increases someone’s chances of developing a gaming addiction. Part of this is because young children and adolescents are hardwired to seek social validation and engage in reward-seeking and risky behaviors, and video games fulfill these needs. Likewise, young people who have ADHD or whose mental health is struggling may find it more challenging to step away from the video game because of how the immersive and fast-paced nature of the games holds and keeps their attention. 

Why Children and Teenagers Are More Likely to Become Addicted to Video Games

Children and teenagers may struggle to balance their game time because of the way their brain is wired and the developmental stages they are going through. Young people’s developing brains have an increased drive to receive validation—such as through in-game achievements, connections, or rewards. Additionally, adolescents struggle to regulate their emotions and impulses, increasing their chances of engaging in real or fictional risk-taking behaviors. Video game platforms prey on these tendencies in young people by offering a highly addictive, immersive, and rewarding place to act out these impulses and build actual or perceived connections.  

What Are the Signs of Video Game Addiction?

The signs of a video game addiction can vary from person to person, but they may include the following:

• Excessively using video games (in general or a specific platform) at the expense of other areas of life
• Being untruthful about how much someone plays or lying about when they were playing video games
• Neglecting essential parts of someone’s life—e.g., school, work, social engagements, or hygiene—to accommodate more gameplay
• Feeling very restless, depressed, anxious, agitated, or antisocial when not playing video games
• Feeling like they are unable to cut back their gaming hours easily and have multiple failed attempts at doing so

Additionally, someone with a gaming addiction may experience unhealthy weight gain, weight loss, or other adverse health consequences because of changes in their eating or exercise habits due to engaging in their addiction. Likewise, the person may experience financial challenges because of compulsive spending on in-game purchases. 

Video Game Addiction and Mental Health Issues

Playing video games excessively and becoming addicted to these platforms can cause psychological, financial, social, physical, and academic harm. For example, gamers may increase isolation behaviors or fail to move their bodies like they should. As a result, they may experience a range of negative consequences on their health, including obesity and mental health disturbances. 

Video Game Addiction and Depression

A 2019 study showed a link between compulsive gaming and experiencing an increase in depressive symptoms and loneliness. As the researchers note, video games may temporarily fulfill an unmet need in someone’s life, but those issues are unresolved by gaming. Additionally, addictions to games can interfere with someone’s real-life social connections and achievements, which can make someone’s feelings of depression and loneliness worse. 

Video Game Addiction and Gamer’s Rage

People who play video games often become highly invested and competitive. Sometimes, playing online games can lead to anger and rage episodes that the gaming community refers to as gamer’s rage. Although gamer’s rage is not an official condition, many in the psychiatric community recognize the affliction. 

A qualitative study conducted by the American Psychological Association examined gaming-induced rage. It defined this rage as, “…expressing violent and impulsive reactions through excessive frustration or bad faith while gaming.” The study concluded that gamer’s rage can lead to anxiety, low self-esteem, and toxic behavior.

Video game addictions can worsen existing symptoms of ADHD, and having ADHD can increase someone’s risk of developing a gaming addiction. A 2019 study found that gamers with ADHD experienced a higher rate of addiction and elevated ADHD symptoms when using video games excessively. 

Video Game Addiction and Anxiety

Video games offer a potential source of relief from anxiety and social anxiety symptoms. A 2020 study found that people with a gaming addiction may also experience social anxiety and use games to try to manage their symptoms. This can lead to increased use and dependence on the platform, which can foster an addiction.  

Scientific Studies Examining Video Game Addiction

As advocates and parents have spoken out about teenagers’ video gaming addictions, researchers have been looking more closely at the mechanisms and impacts. Several studies have found a relationship between excessive gaming use and adverse mental and physical health issues, such as depression, anxiety, obesity, agitation, and poor performance in school. 

Important Study: Effects of memory and attention on the association between video game addiction and cognitive/learning skills in children: mediational analysis

In Effects of memory and attention on the association between video game addiction and cognitive/learning skills in children: mediational analysis, researchers examined the link between attention, memory, cognition, learning, and video game usage in Egyptian children. The study surveyed the mothers of 169 children with a video game addiction in Egypt. The study found that video game addiction had a significant impact on a child’s memory and attention. Additionally, children with video game addictions experienced challenges with cognitive and learning skills, likely because their memory and attention are impaired because of their disorder. 

Important Study: The Prevalence of Video Game Addiction and Its Relation to Anxiety, Depression, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Children and Adolescents in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

The Prevalence of Video Game Addiction and Its Relation to Anxiety, Depression, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Children and Adolescents in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study explored the connection between anxiety, depression, ADHD, and gaming addiction in children in Saudi Arabia. Researchers surveyed 393 children about their backgrounds, mental health history, gaming usage, performance in school, and related matters. Researchers found that children who showed addictive tendencies in how they played video games also had trouble with anxiety, depression, and other mood-related issues. Additionally, children with a gaming addiction were more likely to have ADHD. 

Important Study: The epidemiology and effects of video game addiction: A systematic review and meta-analysis

In The epidemiology and effects of video game addiction: A systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers looked at risk factors for and effects of a video game addiction in people of all ages. According to the study, risk factors for developing a gaming addiction included longer game time, an increased need for social validation, emotional dependence on others, stress, detachment, and playing on online platforms. The authors found that people with a gaming addiction tended to experience heightened symptoms of depression and anxiety and lower self-esteem, life satisfaction, and social connection. 

What Damages Can People Sue Video Game Companies For?

Damages that people may be able to seek include reimbursement for the negative psychological, financial, physical, and social impacts from their or their child’s gaming disorder. A settlement from a successful lawsuit may also include money for medical bills, therapy, lost income, and other expenses associated with the addiction and its effects. For example, if a child had to repeat courses because their gaming addiction caused them to fail classes, they may receive money to address this. Parents and children may also be eligible for punitive damages that punish technology companies for designing addictive and harmful games. 

Who Qualifies to File a Video Game Addiction Lawsuit?

In order to file a video game addiction lawsuit, each person has to meet certain eligibility requirements. Our legal partners are focusing on cases from people who meet the following criteria:

• Person began gaming before the age of 24
• Person was diagnosed with anxiety, depression, gamer’s rage, or a seizure disorder after they started heavy gaming
• Person played specific games on specific platforms or consoles
• Person played video games at least 3 hours a for at least a 5-week timespan

A qualified lawyer can help the person understand if they qualify to request damages from a technology company because their child developed a gaming addiction. A lawyer can help you determine if you meet the criteria above.

What Proof Do You Need to File a Video Game Addiction Lawsuit

To have a chance of winning your lawsuit, you need to have enough evidence that the technology company—like Apple, Nintendo, or Microsoft—caused your child to become addicted to a specific video game. For example, you need to have enough evidence to show that you or your child has developed a mental health disorder due to gaming. . You might accomplish this by presenting play time logs from the platform, psychiatric records, and prescription receipts. Additionally, you may find other sources of proof of addiction or its consequences—like in-game purchase receipts, academic performance reports, and testimony from friends and family.

8 Steps to File a Video Game Addiction Lawsuit

If you think you have a claim against a technology company because of your child’s video game addiction, consider talking to a lawyer about your concerns. The attorney can ask questions about what you, your child, and your family experienced and determine possible legal avenues you can use. 

Your next step is to collect evidence establishing that your child had a gaming addiction and suffered consequences—like failing classes and suffering from depression and anxiety. Evidence you might use includes receipts for counseling, progress reports for school, in-game purchase receipts, and statements from your child, family, and friends. 

Next, you or your lawyer can perform research to determine what laws—like strict liability or product liability—you can use to sue the technology companies. After this, you would start a lawsuit by preparing and filing a legal complaint in the appropriate court. An attorney can help with this. 

You should also make sure you file the case before the applicable deadline—outlined in state and federal laws—expires. Then, you and the other side participate in discovery—a formal fact-finding stage of the case where each participant requests and sends information to learn more about what happened. 

You and the other side would then try to negotiate a settlement and, if these talks were unfruitful, go to trial. You may receive a money judgment if you win your case. You may also have the option to appeal an unfavorable outcome. 

These are the eight steps for filing a video game addiction lawsuit:

1. Talk to a video game addiction attorney
2. Collect evidence of the addiction and its impacts
3. Determine the laws you can use to sue technology companies
4. Initiate a lawsuit before the deadline expires
5. Participate in the discovery process
6. Try to negotiate a settlement
7. Request an attend a trial if settlement talks are unsuccessful
8. Receive a damages award or file an appeal

A qualified attorney can help you identify the steps you need to follow. They can also assist you with starting and completing these promptly and effectively. 

What to Expect When Filing a Video Game Lawsuit

During the different phases of a video game addiction lawsuit, you and the other side will be arguing about whether a video game had a design defect that harmed you or your child by causing a disruptive addiction. As part of this, you should prepare to answer many questions about what happened before, during, and after the addiction formed. Additionally, you may expect evidence requests, formal questioning, settlement discussions, legal documents like motions, and court appearances at hearings and, possibly, a trial. These are all part of the typical court process needed to move the case along. 

How Long Do I Have to File a Video Game Lawsuit?

The law requires you to bring a case within a specific period, referred to as the statute of limitations. These deadlines can span several years and are triggered by different events—such as the date the addiction began or when the child with the video game addiction turned eighteen. Each state has rules about these deadlines and any exceptions to the default timeline. An attorney can help you figure out what the filing dates are in your situation and assist you with taking steps to meet those or request an extension.

Video Game Addiction Settlements and Awards

The video game addiction lawsuit is in its early stages, so no settlements have been reached yet. Depending on each individual’s case, future settlements may range from $100,000 to $300,000 for people who have successful cases.. However, people with minor injuries may receive less than this range. People can maximize their chances of receiving a complete and fair compensation package by building a strong case and acting swiftly to avoid missing filing deadlines. 

Factors Affecting the Value of a Video Game Addiction Lawsuit

Video game addiction lawsuit settlement amounts can vary greatly depending on each person’s unique situation and how the disorder impacted their life. For example, someone who experienced significant losses—such as repeated need for rehabilitative therapy or serious physical health consequences—may receive a higher settlement. Other factors that can influence the total value of an individual case include the overall strength of the legal arguments and whether the person files the suit within the applicable deadline. 

Learn More About Video Game Addiction Lawsuits From Our Legal Team

Video games like Grand Theft Auto, Fortnite, Minecraft, Call of Duty, Roblox, and others are immersive and compelling platforms designed to keep users logged in and engaging with the product. Mounting evidence shows that children and young people are becoming addicted to these games and suffering severe consequences because of it. Technology companies like Activision Blizzard, Apple, Microsoft, Epic Games, and Rockstar North may have designed these games to be addictive, ignoring the real risk of harm to children and adolescents. 

If your child developed a gaming disorder that required treatment and interfered with their daily life, you may qualify for compensation. Our legal team stands ready to help you uncover the truth and seek justice against the technology companies that harmed you, your child, and your family. Contact our reputable team today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss what we can do for you.

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