Fortnite Is ‘As Addictive As Cocaine And Tobacco,’ Says Law Firm

A new lawsuit against Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, has compared the game to cocaine, saying the battle royale game is just as addictive as the Class A drug [via CBC/PCGamer].

Canadian-based legal firm, Calex Légal, has requested authorisation for a class-action lawsuit against Epic Games, acting on behalf of the parents of two children who claim to be addicted to Fortnite. 

Credit: Epic Games

The legal firm has compared the game, which is still a global phenomenon over 12 months after launch, to cocaine and tobacco, with the pending lawsuit claiming that it should be advertised with an addiction warning.

Calex Légal has accused Epic Games of “knowingly [putting] on the market a very, very addictive game which was also geared toward youth.”

Fortnite actually has a clause in the terms and conditions which prevents people bringing a class action lawsuit against Epic, but Calex Légal argues that this is overridden by the Consumer Protection Act of Quebec. The CPA requires that companies must warn its customers about risks such as addiction.

eSports in Schools
Credit: Epic Games

As the debate around Fortnite and video game addiction rages on, the UK is set to open its first medical clinic in the battle against excessive gaming resulting in detriment.

The NHS-run facility will be able to offer support for both children and adults, and will aim to help those aged between 12 and 25 years old [via Guardian]. General practitioners will be able to refer video game addicts to the facility starting this week, providing that their addictions have been deemed debilitating.

Credit: Epic Games

Video game addiction is now recognised by the World Health Organisation, which explains of the phenomenon: “For gaming disorder to be diagnosed, the behaviour pattern must be of sufficient severity to result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning and would normally have been evident for at least 12 months.”

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You can find out more about the World Health Organisation and its stance on video game addiction over on its website right here.

Featured Image Credit: Epic Games