Canadian Parents Say Fortnite Is As Addictive As Cocaine

Canadian parents looking to file a Fortnite class action claim that the popular battle royale game is as addictive as cocaine.

According to the parents, playing the game activates the dopamine receptors in the brain. This mechanism is reportedly linked to the addictive response in the brain.

The developing brains of children are allegedly vulnerable to addiction, meaning young players easily become dependent on playing the game.

Around the world and in Canada, there are reportedly treatment centers dedicated to helping addicted players recover from their Fortnite obsessions.

The addictive nature of the game was reportedly intentional rather than an accident. Game maker Epic Games Inc. allegedly consulted with psychologists when designing their game in order to make it more enticing to young gamers.

“Epic Games, when they created Fortnite, for years and years, hired psychologists — they really dug into the human brain and they really made the effort to make it as addictive as possible,” a representing attorney told CBC. “They knowingly put on the market a very, very addictive game which was also geared toward youth.”

Parents argue that, despite the addictive nature of Fortnite allegedly being planned, they were not warned that their children may become addicted to the game. The concerned parents claim that they would not have let their child play Fortnite if they knew about the addictive potential or would have at least monitored their children more closely.

One lawyer for the parents likened the failure to warn to the claims seen in a 2015 Quebec Superior Court ruling. This ruling found that tobacco companies had not sufficiently warned consumers about the dangers of smoking. According to attorney Alessandra Esposito Chartrand, much of the potential Fortnite class action hinges on this legal precedent.

The parents’ attorney recently requested authorization from a Montreal court to file a class action lawsuit against Epic Games and its Canadian subsidiary.

This is not the first time that Epic Games has gotten heat over its Fortnite game. In June, U.S. parents filed a Fortnite class action in California federal court claiming that the game intentionally encourages children to make in-game purchases.

Although the game is available to be downloaded for free, the mobile version of the game allegedly encourages gamers to purchase “V-Bucks” for additional money and lacks parental controls to prevent these purchases.

Plaintiff Johnny Doe, a minor, reportedly made non-refundable in-app purchased “in the heat of the moment” due to pressure from the game.

This Fortnite class action also ties in with the more recent Fortnite addiction complaint, comparing the game to addictive drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

Are you a parent of a child who is addicted to Fortnite? Share your experience in the comment section below!

The Canadian parents and minor children are represented by Alessandra Esposito Chartrand of Calex Légal. Case information is not currently available.

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