Dutch foundation files mass claim against Fortnite over addictive features
Epic Games’ pressure tactics in Fortnite are proving costly.
Fortnite is suspected to have used addictive features. Image: Shutterstock.
- SMC filed a class-action lawsuit alleging Epic pressured young Fortnite players to buy in-game items.
- The foundation says countdown timers and urgent purchase messages created a false sense of scarcity.
- SMC wants Epic to remove misleading features and compensate affected players.
- Dutch authorities previously fined Epic €1.1 million, and Epic did not appeal.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
The Mass Damage & Consumer Foundation (SMC) has filed a class-action lawsuit against Epic Games for misleading young gamers.
According to the foundation, the video game developer systematically pressured them to spend money on in-game items in Fortnite by introducing addictive features, such as countdown timers and misleading slogans like “Get it now” or “Grab it,” to create a false sense of scarcity.
“Epic deliberately designed the game to pressure players into making purchases. Young consumers, in particular, should be given extra protection against this. The responsibility should lie with the developer, not with the players or their parents,” Luchia Melcherts, Chairman of the SMC, says in a public statement.
The foundation is demanding that Epic Games put an end to all addictive and misleading features in Fortnite. In addition, all business operations and design choices can no longer harm the trust and interests of children and young adults and must be fully compliant with consumer protection regulations.
Furthermore, Epic Games has to compensate players for the harm they’ve suffered as a result of Fortnite’s addictive features. Lastly, SMC is asking for compensation for violating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including failing to implement age verification and enabling chat features by default, thus leaving vulnerable children open to threats.
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“We are not calling for a ban on Fortnite. But now that it has been established that Epic violated the rules, the logical next step is for the players who spent money as a result to receive some compensation,” Melcherts added.
In late 2022, Epic Games reached a $245 million settlement in the US, intended to reimburse players. On top of that, the game developer paid $275 million for collecting data from children without their parents’ consent.
In 2023, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) sued Epic Games for encouraging approximately one million Dutch children to make unwanted purchases in Fortnite.
The District Court of Rotterdam ruled in favor of the competition watchdog and issued a fine of €1.1 million. Epic Games decided not to appeal the Dutch court’s ruling.
