In a striking legal move, a lawsuit has been filed against major video game companies, accusing them of exploiting minors through addictive gaming designs. The complaint was lodged by Sukhari Williams on behalf of her minor child, EIH, in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, on February 25, 2025. The defendants named in the case are Roblox Corporation, Epic Games, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, and Mojang AB.
The lawsuit alleges that these companies have knowingly designed their games—Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft—to be addictive to minors without implementing necessary safety features or warnings about potential risks. According to the complaint, the defendants have prioritized profit over safety by encouraging excessive gameplay among minors to increase in-game purchases. "This litigation seeks to hold each Defendant accountable for failing to warn and failing to include available safeguards against the known risks to minors," states the complaint. It further accuses the companies of intentional misrepresentation and violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law.
Williams claims that her child began using these games at around five years old and has since developed an addiction leading to severe emotional distress and financial losses due to in-game purchases. The lawsuit highlights that these games lack adequate parental controls and fail to provide sufficient warnings about their potential for addiction. It argues that despite being aware of scientific research linking prolonged video game use with brain damage and cognitive decline in minors, the defendants have not taken appropriate measures to mitigate these risks.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages for strict product liability due to design defects and failure to warn users about potential harm. They also demand changes in how these games are marketed and designed to prevent future harm to other minors. Williams is represented by attorneys from Bradley/Grombacher LLP and Aylstock Witkin Kreis & Overholtz PLLC. The case is presided over by a judge from the Superior Court of California under Case ID CGC-25-622764.