Epic Games, makers of Fortnite game, is being accused in a class action lawsuit of manipulating children into spending real world money on virtual game items.ย
California mom Jillian Williams is arguing Epic Games, through its Fortnite game, cheats her child and her pocketbook by dangling virtual features and upgrades in misleading ways.ย
The makers of the video game once described as โheroin for kidsโ made headlines two years ago when children were being sent to rehab over playing Fortnite obsessively.
Fortnite was released by Epic Games in 2017 and has exploded in popularity. Epic Games sells two versions of Fortnite, Battle Royale and Save the World.ย
Williams says while the Battle Royale version of Fortnite may be free, the game entices children to pay without knowing the real cost.ย
Fortnite players can use real money to buy virtual content for various purposes in the game, Williams explains in the complaint. This content includes character โskins,โ special gliders, unique dance moves, material to build with, ammunition and other upgrades.ย
These purchases are made in-game with so-called โV-bucks,โ a virtual currency which Epic Games does not refund once traded.ย ย
By swapping packs of V-bucks for real dollars, Epic Games is hiding the real value, Williams alleges. The smallest amount that can be purchased is 1,000 V-bucks for $7.99, according to the class action lawsuit.ย
Williams says Epic Games sets up purchases this way so players, especially children, wonโt be able to tell the real cost unless they determined the conversion rate and multiplied the cost of the virtual currency by that rate.ย
She points to a pair of economists from the European University Viadrina Frankfurt who concluded in a Jan. 2020 study that this creates a โmoney illusion.โย
Fortniteโs alleged manipulation doesnโt end there, according to the class action. In addition to obscuring value, the game allegedly makes it too easy for these in-game purchases to happen. The game stores credit or debit card details so all a player has to do is push a button.
โThis combination of easy purchasing at a concealed cost explains why many players, especially minors, are willing to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on items and game content in Fortnite,โ the class action stated.ย
Once the V-bucks are bought players will find theyโll need more, the class action contends. The packages are set up in a way to just fall short of the prices of items in the game.ย
Even more, according to the class action lawsuit, players will find theyโll either need to eventually spend money on these items to advance in the game or spend an extraordinary amount of time playing it for free to get that item for free.ย
โFortnite misleads and manipulates minors into making purchases of V-Bucks and, from there, items and game content in Fortnite without understanding the economic reality of those transactions,โ the class action stated.ย
Williams seeks to represent a nationwide class of minors who had a Fortnite account from July 2017 until the present, which was used to play Fortnite games and used or exchanged V-Bucks for game content use.
Do you or someone you know play Fortnite and racked up in-game charges? What do you think of this class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments below.ย
Counsel representing the plaintiffs in this class action lawsuit are Peter R. Afrasiabi, John E. Lord of One LLP; Maximillian N. Amster and Samuel J. Salario, Jr. of Bay Advocacy PLLC.ย ย
The Epic Games Class Action Lawsuit is Williams, et al. v. Epic Games, Inc., Case No. 3:21-cv-00976 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.ย
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
472 thoughts onEpic Games Manipulates Kids Through Fortnite, Parents Claim
Please add me. All three of my kids play this and have spent too much money within this game.
Please add meโฆ I have 4 children that does these things on a regular basis and dont realize the issues it causes until they want extra things frim the stores and i say well u purchased those v bucks without my permission.
Add me please my kid has spent numerous amounts of money on this.
All my boys (4) , has played bought stuff on this game since it came out. Now my daughter canโt wait until she turns 10 to play it. I watch all the ratings for them to play games but Idk if I will be allowing her on it.
Please add me for all 4 of my boys. Thank you for standing up to these people ripping our children out of money and their actual thinking and a good working mind.
Add me please
Add us..me
He has spent a lot of money on cosmetic items not worth the money . Add me
My son plays Fortnite all the time. He has spent money via my account many of times.
My kid has been playing since the first day fortnite came out as a Beta game!!!!! Well before and through 2017! Hello ty caused him to be addicted, become over weight and he is failing school ( before fortnite he was playing football all the time on the football team, was a straight ANB student and never had any type away issues. Everyone called me crazy for saying fortnight was addicting and now itโs coming out in a lawsuit please sign me up I almost lost my child to the stupid game and I still fight with him each day to spend less time on it he spends more time on fortnight and has spent more time on fortnight since the game came out as a better than he has spent with me or his brother he literally lived in his room and is cause fights in a very stressful
Iโve never spent more money in my life on any video game than I have w/fortnight, itโs very addicting &Bank draining the game is set up to either have the kids waste their life on a video game to try to get ahead in the game because they play with all their real friends and thatโs what kids want to do is win and compete or you have to spend $1 million to do that either way itโs promoting really bad habits for our kids and creating tons of stress for the parents they have to deal with it please contact me I need to be the Class Representative!! Have TONS OF PROOF!
I have been purchasing vbucks for years. I would like to be included in this if it goes forward .
My grandkids play all the time and have spent a small fortune over the past few years