The term "epic" is trending today, driven in part by ongoing legal battles surrounding Epic Games, the creator of the wildly popular game Fortnite. While Epic Games has achieved considerable success, including the development of the Unreal Engine and attracting investments for its metaverse projects, the company faces scrutiny regarding Fortnite's impact, particularly on young players.
A class-action lawsuit in Canada, alleging that Epic Games "knowingly" designed Fortnite to be "highly addictive," has been approved by a Quebec Superior Court judge. The lawsuit, initially filed in 2019, claims Epic Games worked with psychologists to maximize the game's addictive qualities without warning consumers about the potential risks. Plaintiffs argue their children suffered physical, psychological, and financial harm due to the game's compelling nature. They allege their children wouldn't eat, sleep, or shower due to their addiction to playing Fortnite.
This isn't the only legal challenge Epic Games has faced in Canada. In 2023, the company paid out $2.75 million in a class-action settlement related to "loot boxes" in Fortnite and Rocket League. The lawsuit claimed the company violated consumer protection laws by offering these in-game purchases, which allow players to spend real money on random digital items.
Epic Games has stated it has "industry-leading parental controls" and intends to fight the "addiction" lawsuit in court. These controls allow parents to supervise their child's digital experience, including playtime tracking and purchase permissions. Despite these measures, the legal challenges highlight ongoing concerns about the potential impact of video games, particularly those designed with highly engaging elements, on young and vulnerable players in Canada.
