Families across California are filing lawsuits against the makers of popular video games like Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft, claiming these companies deliberately designed their games to be addictive. The lawsuits allege that these game makers employed psychological techniques and gambling-like mechanics to keep young players, particularly children and teens, hooked. These design strategies have allegedly caused serious harm to minors and young adults who became addicted while underage.
If your child has struggled with video game addiction to these specific games and has required professional treatment or intervention, you may have legal options. These lawsuits seek compensation for families whose children suffered well-documented harm from gaming addiction.
California Court Grants Case Coordination
On April 11, 2025, Judge Samantha P. Jessner of the Los Angeles Superior Court issued a landmark ruling in Videogame Addiction Cases (JCCP No. 5363), agreeing to combine six lawsuits against major video game companies. These cases specifically target the makers of Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft, with families alleging their children became addicted as minors.
All six cases were filed within days of each other in August 2024, and most have been designated as “complex” cases under California court rules, meaning they involve complicated legal and factual issues.
The coordinated proceeding brings together cases against several major defendants, including:
- Roblox Corporation (maker of Roblox)
- Epic Games, Inc. (maker of Fortnite)
- Mojang Studios/Microsoft (maker of Minecraft)
The cases focus primarily on addiction to Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft, with additional defendants included based on platforms where children accessed these games.
The companies opposed combining the cases, arguing that they were too different. However, Judge Jessner concluded that the common question of whether the defendants’ products caused the alleged harm to plaintiffs was central to all the lawsuits, making coordination appropriate.
Gaming Disorder: A Clinical Definition
Video game addiction, clinically recognized as “gaming disorder” by the World Health Organization (WHO), is characterized by:
- Impaired control over gaming habits
- Prioritization of gaming over other interests and daily activities
- Continuing to play despite negative physical, mental, or social consequences
The WHO’s official recognition of gaming disorder as a legitimate medical condition in 2018 provides crucial scientific support for these legal claims. This designation places video game addiction alongside other recognized behavioral addictions, giving families and their legal representatives a solid medical foundation to pursue compensation from gaming companies.
For a formal diagnosis, these behaviors must cause substantial disruption to a person’s ability to function in daily life for at least one year.
Case Examples and Documented Harm
The California cases involve minors and young adults who became addicted to Roblox, Fortnite, or Minecraft as children and required professional intervention. According to court documents, one case involves an 8-year-old child who began playing video games at age three and now plays “five to nine hours daily,” allegedly suffering “brain damage and delayed development, depression, rage and aggression, and a compulsive inability to participate in activities besides gaming.”
Importantly, these cases involve families who documented their children’s addiction through medical records, therapy sessions, or treatment programs, establishing just how serious the gaming disorder is.
Primary Legal Claims
The lawsuits allege that the makers of Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft intentionally designed addictive games to exploit vulnerable users, particularly children and teens. The key legal claims include:
Deceptive Design
Using algorithms and features that mimic gambling mechanics, such as “loot boxes,” to drive compulsive spending and gameplay.
Failure to Warn
Neglecting to disclose addiction risks or providing adequate tools to limit playtime and in-game purchases (microtransactions).
Targeted Marketing
Using psychologically manipulative content directed explicitly toward minors.
Reported Injuries and Damages
To qualify for these lawsuits, families must typically demonstrate documented harm from addiction to Roblox, Fortnite, or Minecraft, including:
Physical Injuries
- Repetitive stress injuries (RSI) in wrists and hands
- Sleep deprivation and related health issues documented by medical professionals
Psychological Harm
- Anxiety and depression requiring professional treatment
- Increased aggression and social isolation witnessed by family members or documented by healthcare providers
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
Academic and Social Issues
- Declining grades documented through school records
- Loss of interest in extracurricular activities
- Strained family relationships requiring family therapy or counseling
Financial Harm
- Minors accumulating thousands of dollars in unauthorized microtransactions on Roblox, Fortnite, or Minecraft
- Families facing drained savings or credit card debt
Legal Significance of Coordination
The coordination of these cases in the Los Angeles Superior Court means one judge will handle all cases, preventing contradictory decisions and promoting consistent rulings.
California’s coordination signals judicial recognition of the legitimacy of video game addiction claims. Coordinated proceedings also often facilitate comprehensive settlements for all affected parties, potentially leading to industry-wide changes in how games are designed and marketed to children.
Judge Jessner noted that proving the games caused harm will require expert witnesses from both sides, and having one court handle all cases streamlines this process and avoids conflicting decisions.
Any appeals from the coordinated proceeding will be heard by the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, which may establish important precedent for future cases.
As of June 2025, no trial dates have been set, and no court has ruled on whether the games are legally defective or whether the companies are liable for any potential issues. The cases remain in the pretrial phase as both sides prepare their evidence and expert testimony.
Gaming Disorder Indicators
If your child shows these signs specifically related to playing Roblox, Fortnite, or Minecraft, and you have sought professional help, you may qualify for legal action:
- Inability to control time spent gaming these specific games
- Gaming takes priority over school, family, and social activities
- Continuing to play despite negative consequences
- Withdrawal symptoms when gaming is restricted
- Lying about time spent gaming
- Using gaming to escape negative emotions
- Noticeable changes in sleep patterns, appetite, or mood related to gaming
Action Steps for Affected Families
If you believe your child has been harmed by Roblox, Fortnite, or Minecraft addiction:
- Gather documentation: Collect medical records, therapy notes, treatment records, school reports showing declining performance, and financial records of unauthorized game purchases.
- Professional treatment history: If you haven’t already, seek help from healthcare providers who specialize in gaming disorder. Having documented treatment can strengthen your legal claims.
- Legal qualification: You may qualify if your child became addicted to these specific games as a minor, required professional intervention, and you have documentation of the addiction and resulting harm.
- Act promptly: Legal claims have time limits, so don’t delay in seeking legal advice if you believe your family has been harmed.
Legal Representation
Our experienced team is closely tracking developments in the coordinated proceeding and is assisting families whose children became addicted to these games as minors and required professional treatment. We offer confidential consultations to determine whether your child’s documented addiction to Roblox, Fortnite, or Minecraft qualifies for legal action.
To potentially qualify, your child typically must have become addicted as a minor, required professional treatment or intervention, and you must have documentation of the addiction and resulting harm. Our goal is to hold these corporations accountable for their role in creating and marketing addictive products to children while helping families recover compensation for the harm their families have suffered.