Parents to sue Fortnite maker over children’s ‘addiction’

PARENTS who say their children stopped sleeping, showering and eating to play the video game Fortnite can sue its makers, after a judge approved their lawsuit and compared it to tobacco.

Justice Sylvain Lussie from Quebec’s Superior Court in Canada approved a class action brought by three parents and ruled that certain others can join the legal action.

The popular online game, where players square off against each other in a fight for survival, has amassed more than 350million players online.

One of the children played more than 7,700 hours of the game in less than two years, according to the lawsuit.

The parents said all their children had developed behavioural issues as a result of playing Fortnite.

The lawsuit described how one of the parents was driven to put a lock on their son’s computer to try to limit how much time he spent playing the game.

In court filings, the parents noted that the World Health Organisation recognised video game addiction in 2018. Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, has argued that video game addiction is not a recognised psychological disorder in Quebec or by the American Psychiatric Association.

However, Justice Lussie found the lawsuit “does not appear frivolous or manifestly ill-founded”.

He likened current understanding of video game addiction to early awareness of tobacco addiction.

The judge said: “The harmful effect of tobacco was not recognised or admitted overnight.

“The court concludes that there is a serious issue to be argued, supported by sufficient and specific allegations as to the existence of risks or even dangers arising from the use of Fortnite.”