Video Game Addiction

Video game addiction litigation against Epic Games, Roblox, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, and Activision Blizzard remains in early individual-filing stage with no MDL consolidation yet approved by the JPML. A December 2025 complaint in the Northern District of California (Jackson v. Epic Games Inc. et al., filed Dec. 30, 2025) alleges structural brain changes from internet gaming disorder, marking an escalation in medical causation theories. Courts are currently adjudicating threshold defenses including arbitration clauses, First Amendment preemption, and failure-to-warn preemption under state law.

The JPML denied MDL consolidation for video game addiction litigation in late 2025, finding actions failed to satisfy 28 U.S.C. § 1407 standards due to variations in defendants, games, and individualized facts. MDL No. 3168 (In re: Gateway Video Game Addiction Product Liability Litigation) was created September 25, 2025, with a hearing scheduled December 4, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Individual cases proceed in district courts with arbitration motions dominating early posture; Angelilli v. Activision Blizzard, Inc., No. 23-cv-16566 (N.D. Ill. Feb. 18, 2025), stayed litigation pending arbitration for multiple defendants.

MDL 3109 IN RE: Video Game Addiction Products Liability Litigation (JPML created March 14, 2024; oral argument May 30, 2024). Defendants: Activision Blizzard, Apple, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Google, Microsoft/Mojang, Nintendo, Roblox, Rockstar/Take-Two, Sledgehammer, Treyarch, Ubisoft. Core theory: intentional addictive design via variable reward schedules, microtransactions, FOMO mechanics targeting minors. Research cited: gaming disorder may affect 1 in 10 adolescent boys; Roblox 45% under-13 user base.

• Louisiana

  Anderson v. Roblox Corp. et al., E.D. La. 2:25-cv-02413 (Dec. 1, 2025 filing) — 11-year-old with alleged addiction to Minecraft, Fortnite, Roblox; neurodivergent child vulnerability theory. Dudley DeBosier representation.

• California

  Jackson v. Epic Games Inc. et al., N.D. Cal. (Dec. 30, 2025 filing) — structural brain change allegations citing neuroimaging research; internet gaming disorder diagnosis. California Unfair Competition Law claims.

• Missouri

  Courtwright v. Epic Games et al., W.D. Mo. 2:24-cv-4055 — minor K.C. addiction claims; insufficient parental controls theory.

• Arkansas

  Multiple tag-along actions: ARE/3:23-cv-00224, ARE/3:24-cv-00026, ARE/3:24-cv-00041 — MDL 3109 pool.

• Illinois

  Tag-along actions: ILN/1:23-cv-16566, ILS/3:23-cv-03678 — MDL 3109 pool.

• Georgia

  Consolidated filings: GAND 1:24-cv-01697, 1:24-cv-01876, 1:24-cv-02019 — MDL 3109 pool.

• Florida

  FLN/1:24-cv-00064, M.D. Fla. 6:24-cv-00762 — MDL 3109 pool; referenced similar 10-year-old addiction case.

• Minnesota

  Tag-along: MN/0:24-cv-01602 — MDL 3109 pool.

No MDL established for video game addiction litigation. JPML denied centralization June 5, 2024 (In re Video Game Addiction Litigation, MDL No. 3099). Individual cases proceeding in district courts. FTC Epic Games settlement ($72M, December 2022) resolved deceptive billing claims, not addiction liability. Third-party intake sites referencing 'settlement funds' and 'won cases' describe unverified private settlement programs, not court-approved class resolutions—verify independently before intake commitments. Minor tolling rules vary; parental claims may face separate accrual dates from minor's claims.