Roblox, Fortnite Addiction Lawsuit Alleges Games Caused Severe Withdrawal, Mental Health Problems

Lawsuit claims attempts to restrict access to video games triggered anger, physical outbursts and threats of self-harm.

A Florida man has filed a product liability lawsuit alleging intentionally addictive features in Roblox and Fortnite caused him to develop a compulsive and disordered relationship with video games.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Christopher J. Newsome in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on September 17, naming Roblox Corporation and Epic Games as defendants.

Newsome claims the companies used psychological techniques, achievement systems, microtransactions, limited-time content and other engagement features to encourage prolonged and repeated gameplay, particularly among young users.

Video Game Addiction Concerns

Video game addiction involves persistent, difficult-to-control gaming that begins to interfere with daily activities and responsibilities, including school, work, relationships and other interests. The World Health Organization recognizes gaming disorder in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), while the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) identifies internet gaming disorder as a condition warranting further study.

Individuals struggling with compulsive gaming may have difficulty cutting back, spend increasing amounts of time thinking about or playing video games and lose interest in activities they previously enjoyed. They may also conceal their gaming habits and continue playing despite problems involving school, relationships or emotional well-being, potentially leading to social isolation and difficulty functioning in everyday life.

Concerns about these potential effects have contributed to a growing number of video game addiction lawsuits filed against major game developers. Families claim companies behind games such as Fortnite, Roblox and Minecraft intentionally used psychological techniques and engagement features to keep children and teenagers playing longer and spending money on in-game purchases, despite alleged risks to their mental health and well-being.

Roblox, Fortnite Addiction Allegations

According to the complaint, Roblox and Fortnite were among the first online video games Newsome played, and he eventually developed what the lawsuit describes as a compulsive and disordered relationship with gaming.

Newsome claims his gaming habits interfered with his education and contributed to declining grades, eventually requiring diagnostic testing, mandatory summer school and an individualized education program.

Efforts to restrict his access to video games allegedly triggered severe withdrawal symptoms, including anger, physical outbursts, threats of self-harm and behavior that could injure himself or others. Newsome also says he stopped maintaining normal hygiene, sleeping and eating habits when separated from the games.

The lawsuit claims Newsome developed anxiety and depression and lost interest in activities he previously enjoyed, including sports and spending time with friends and family.

Newsome maintains those problems were caused by features Roblox incorporated into its platform to encourage repeated and prolonged use.

The complaint points to Roblox’s achievement system, which rewards users for completing certain activities and continuing to play over multiple days. It also raises concerns about microtransactions and limited-time content, including season passes, as well as Roblox’s Creator Hub, which provides developers with information about monetization and engagement strategies.

Newsome alleges those features are intended to create urgency and encourage users to spend more time on the platform.

The filing further claims Roblox used behavioral expertise to develop features that capitalize on psychological reward mechanisms, particularly among minors and other potentially vulnerable users, without adequately warning families about the risk of compulsive gaming.

Newsome raises similar allegations against Epic Games, the developer and publisher of Fortnite, claiming it incorporated engagement and monetization features intended to keep users playing for extended periods and repeatedly returning to the game. He also points to the company’s public statements about online safety and educational uses for Fortnite, claiming those representations gave users and families a misleading impression about the game’s potential risks.

“Each Defendant has engaged in deceptive, unfair, immoral, and reckless behavior that damaged and continues to harm Plaintiff Christopher J. Newsome and countless other Floridians and Americans. For this, they should be punished, and punitive damages should be assessed against each Defendant for their respective misdeeds and unlawful conduct.”

— Christopher J. Newsome v. Roblox Corporation et al.

Newsome raises allegations of design defect, failure to warn, negligence, statutory negligence, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and violation of California’s unfair competition law. He seeks compensatory and punitive damages for the physical, psychological and economic injuries he attributes to his use of Roblox and Fortnite.

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