Video Game Addiction Lawsuit Legal Marketing Campaigns for Lawyers

For the second time, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation denied a request to centralize federal video game addiction lawsuits, refusing to establish an MDL focused on Fortnite, Roblox, and Minecraft.

 
The motion sought to limit the MDL to three “gateway” games, including Epic Games’ Fortnite, Roblox Corporation’s Roblox, and Microsoft’s Minecraft.

 
The panel stated that it remains concerned that the scope of the litigation may quickly grow too large, as plaintiffs who played different games on different platforms — in addition to the gateway games at issue in the cases currently pending — file new actions.

 
Judges cited the increasing number of cases (at least 39 involving the so-called “gateway” games) and the common inclusion of unnamed Doe defendants as reasons for concern. The panel found that differences among defendants, platforms, alleged design features, and player experiences outweigh any benefits from coordinated discovery.

 
For now, all video game addiction cases will continue to be addressed individually in their respective districts.

 
“There are now more actions before the Panel than in the previous iteration of this litigation, and they are ostensibly more narrowly focused to just three groups of defendants,” the panel stated. “But we are not persuaded that the litigation will not grow to encompass a large tangle of defendants and products, similar to what was before us in In re Video Game Addiction, which risks creating an MDL too unwieldy for any single judge to manage.”

Oral arguments are scheduled for December 4 before the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to determine whether all federal gateway video game addiction lawsuits involving the games Fortnite, Minecraft and Roblox should be consolidated before one judge in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for pretrial proceedings.

 
Amid a growing number of lawsuits being filed by parents nationwide, a plaintiff filed a motion last month seeking to have the claims centralized. The lawsuits allege that video game developers and publishers intentionally design their games so that young people will become addicted to them, and that this addiction has fueled a mental health crisis. Manufacturers are also accused of having games illegally track children’s online activity and use the data to build algorithms that pressure them with targeted ads and in-game purchases.

 
The motion for consolidation seeks to limit the MDL to three “gateway” games, including Epic Games’ Fortnite, Roblox Corporation’s Roblox, and Microsoft’s Minecraft. According to the motion, there are currently 17 actions involving the three games, which have been brought in seven different U.S. District Courts. If the request is approved, the court would coordinate discovery efforts to avoid duplicative pretrial proceedings and contradictory rulings.

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A group of parents made a request to the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to consolidate similar video game addiction lawsuits against the makers of Fortnite, Roblox, and Minecraft into multidistrict litigation in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania under Judge Mia Roberts Perez. The motion contends that the design features shared by the games cause a common harm of addiction to the games among children and teens. The lawsuits said modifications to the products could have prevented this harm.

 
One new lawsuit against Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft was filed in federal court by a Missouri family alleging that their 12-year-old child suffered significant emotional, physical, and cognitive harm from being addicted to the video games.

 
The plaintiffs contend that the defendants used psychologists and child development experts to design games that were addictive to minors. The complaint details how each company implemented psychological mechanisms such as operant conditioning, variable reward schedules, and achievement systems that encourage compulsive use in order to create dependency and increase profits.

Over 100 video game addiction lawsuits have now been consolidated in the California Judicial Council Coordinated Proceeding. Jury selection is scheduled to begin Nov. 19 in the first bellwether trial for these cases, which allege that gaming companies used various tactics, including behavioral psychology, to get children addicted to video games and maximize in-game purchases.

 
In Georgia, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by a gamer who alleged that Google and Roblox designed their products in ways that fostered addiction.

 
The suit was dismissed without prejudice, meaning the court did not rule on the merits of the claim but found that the complaint was insufficient to proceed as filed. The plaintiff can refile the claims if deficiencies identified by the court are corrected.

 
A new lawsuit was filed last month by a Calfornia family against Epic Games and Microsoft, alleging that the intentional design of addictive video games such as Fortnite, Minecraft and the Xbox platform that caused serious harm to their 12-year-old son. The suit claims the boy developed a compulsive gaming habit marked by withdrawal symptoms, emotional volatility, and academic decline.

The California: Judicial Council Coordinated Proceeding of video game addiction cases continues to move more quickly than the federal video game addiction MDL. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl scheduled jury selection for the first bellwether trial in the California litigation to begin on November 19, 2025, with the trial itself to start the following week.

At the start of the month, the federal social media addiction MDL had risen by 55 new cases to a total of 1,922, signaling consistent growth in the litigation which includes 11 bellwether cases. Five personal injury cases and six school district cases have been selected as bellwethers. No trial dates have been set, though the court has indicated that at least one case could go to trial early next year.

One new lawsuit was filed by a woman who said her son became addicted to video games manufactured by Epic Games and Microsoft. She alleged this addiction to the games, including Roblox, Fortnite, Minecraft, and other games on the Xbox console, caused the child to suffer socially, withdraw from hobbies, and have rageful outbursts. The suit seeks compensation for her family’s losses.

18 new lawsuits against Roblox Corporation were added to a single group lawsuit in California: Judicial Council Coordinated Proceeding (JCCP) No. 5363 – Video Game Addiction Cases.

The litigation, overseen by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Samantha P. Jessner, involves over 100 claims of video game addiction among minors resulting in negative health consequences. The suits name major gaming companies such as Epic Games (Fortnite), Microsoft (Minecraft), and Activision, alleging that the companies failed to adequately warn users and parents about the potential risks of the games. The consolidation is designed to streamline pretrial proceedings and manage overlapping issues in the cases.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that young children and adolescents who excessively used social media and played video games had higher rates of suicidal ideation and attempts than their peers.

Over 100 video game addiction lawsuits pending in California state courts have been consolidated in a single group lawsuit: Judicial Council Coordinated Proceeding (JCCP) No. 5363 – Video Game Addiction Cases.

Judge Samantha P. Jessner of the Los Angeles Superior Court will oversee this consolidation, similar to an MDL, which will also include other video game addiction lawsuits from elsewhere in the country. The group lawsuit will streamline pretrial processes, allowing plaintiffs to pool resources and share expert testimony and other information.

One new lawsuit was filed by a Los Angeles family which claimed Epic Games, Inc. and Microsoft Corporation intentionally designed addictive features in games such as Fortnite and Microsoft. The suit alleges the family’s child began playing these games at age six and became increasingly dependent on playing, resulting in deteriorating academic performance, disrupted sleep, and social withdrawal.

Last month Illinois federal judge April M. Perry dismissed all claims in a lawsuit against Google, Apple, and Roblox. The suit was filed by a woman who alleged that her son became addicted to video games such as Roblox, Call of Duty, and Fortnite, and that the firms designed and marketed video games to children without warning about their addictive properties.

The judge ruled that the plaintiff failed to establish a causal link between the companies’ alleged misconduct and their alleged injuries. Perry added that the complaint was overly lengthy and lacked clarity, but she granted the plaintiff leave to amend the suit by filing a revised complaint that is more specific.

Parents across the country continue to file lawsuits against Roblox Corporation, Epic Games, Microsoft, and Mojang for their alleged use of addictive features and designs to exploit young users. Although no settlements or significant updates have been announced in the past month, payouts are projected to vary widely case-to-case, with those involving significant psychological and financial harm potentially topping $250,000.

A new lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County early March accuses Roblox Corporation, Epic Games, Microsoft, and Mojang of intentionally designing their games to be addictive to minors. The complaint, brought by the family of a 13-year-old, alleges the companies used manipulative game mechanics, psychological tactics, and monetization strategies to foster compulsive gaming behaviors. The child, who began playing at age five, reportedly suffered emotional distress, social withdrawal, and difficulty regulating screen time. The family claims the games lacked sufficient warnings or parental controls despite known risks. Causes of action include product liability, negligence, fraud, and violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law. The suit argues the companies prioritized profits over children’s well-being, creating a growing public health concern.