The lawsuit claims that efforts to restrict gaming are met with “severe withdrawal symptoms, including anger, refusal to sleep, and neglect of personal hygiene.”
A Maine mother is suing the developer behind some of the most popular video games for kids, claiming the games’ makers added features they knew would be addictive without implementing safety features.
Casey Henderson, the mother of a 9-year-old, is suing Microsoft along with the creators of Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft. The 83-page complaint, submitted Tuesday in U.S. District Court, alleges the games are marketed directly to kids and engineered with features intended to maximize screen time and drive in-game purchases.
According to the lawsuit, Henderson’s child has experienced “diminished social interactions, loss of interest in other hobbies, and withdrawal symptoms such as rage, anger, and physical outbursts.” The lawsuit further claims that efforts to restrict gaming are met with “severe withdrawal symptoms, including anger, refusal to sleep, and neglect of personal hygiene.”
Attorney Brett Dwight Baber, representing Henderson, said the companies must be held responsible. “These manufacturers have intentionally embedded psychological triggers to keep kids playing as much as possible. It’s about profit, plain and simple. This is a billion-dollar industry—with a capital B,” he said.
The lawsuit seeks monetary relief, claiming Henderson has suffered and continues to suffer injuries and damages exceeding $75,000.
As of now, none of the companies named in the lawsuit have responded to requests for comment.