Roblox Video Game Addiction Lawsuit

On this page, we will look at video game addiction lawsuits involving the popular online game Roblox. We will look at the allegations in these lawsuits, who qualifies to bring one of these cases, and the potential settlement value of Roblox addiction lawsuits.

About Roblox

Roblox, an online video game platform developed by Roblox Corporation, has become a global phenomenon since its release in 2006. With its expansive virtual worlds and user-generated content, Roblox allows players to create, explore, and socialize in immersive environments. By 2024, the platform had over 217 million monthly active users, with more than half under the age of 13. While it is marketed as a safe and educational tool for children, mounting allegations suggest that Roblox Corporation’s practices exploit its youngest users through addictive design, privacy violations, and deceptive marketing.

Roblox’s rise to prominence was fueled by strategic expansions, such as its 2015 release on Microsoft’s Xbox One console and its 2016 compatibility with the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated its growth as children turned to online platforms for entertainment during lockdowns. By integrating with additional platforms like Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Meta Quest virtual reality headsets, Roblox became accessible on nearly every gaming and mobile device. This widespread availability, combined with its appeal to younger audiences, has placed it at the center of legal and ethical scrutiny.

Concerns About Addictive Game Design

Central to the criticism of Roblox is its intentionally addictive design. Allegations suggest that Roblox Corporation collaborated with psychologists, neuroscientists, and behavioral experts to exploit the brain’s reward system, particularly in minors and neurodivergent users. Gameplay triggers dopamine release, creating feelings of pleasure and reinforcing repetitive behavior. This biochemical response can lead to compulsive gaming, especially in children whose developing brains are more vulnerable to such influences.

The platform’s design ensures players remain engaged by offering endless variety. Users can explore new games, challenges, and virtual experiences daily, creating a dynamic environment that prevents boredom. Social interactions within the game add another layer of engagement, as players compete or collaborate with friends and other users in real time. This social pressure often encourages prolonged play and in-game purchases, further deepening the addictive cycle.

Roblox’s reliance on microtransactions has also come under fire. Players use a virtual currency, Robux, to purchase items such as avatars, skins, and exclusive game passes. These features are designed to entice players, particularly minors, into frequent spending.  This is some next-level manipulation.  Algorithms analyze player behavior to target users with tailored in-game offers, making it easy for children to unknowingly rack up significant charges without parental consent.

Deceptive Marketing Practices

Roblox Corporation’s portrayal of its platform as a safe space for children has been called into question. The company promotes Roblox as an educational resource that fosters creativity and imagination. However, critics argue that this marketing is misleading, as it fails to disclose the platform’s inherent risks. By emphasizing safety and educational value, Roblox Corporation obscures the addictive and manipulative aspects of its design, leaving parents unaware of the potential harm.

The use of dark patterns—psychological tricks embedded in the platform’s design—further undermines its claims of safety. These patterns include creating urgency around in-game purchases, leveraging social pressures, and offering rewards that encourage players to spend more time and money on the platform. For many families, these practices have resulted in financial and emotional distress.

Privacy Concerns and COPPA Violations

Roblox Corporation’s practices have also raised questions about violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which sets strict requirements for companies collecting data from children under 13. Allegations include the collection of biometric data through facial scans required for the platform’s “voice chat” feature. While promoted as an age-verification tool, these scans allegedly create unique faceprints—as identifiable as fingerprints—that are used to track user behavior and gaming patterns.

In addition to biometric data collection, Roblox reportedly allows advertising to blend seamlessly with organic content, exposing millions of children to covert marketing. The platform allegedly fails to adequately disclose the presence of ads within games and experiences, leaving young users unaware of the persuasive intent behind what they see. Moreover, social media influencers promoting Roblox are accused of failing to clearly disclose their connections to the company in ways that are understandable to children, further blurring the line between entertainment and advertising.

These practices are not merely technical violations of COPPA but are alleged to harm children by using private data to manipulate their gaming and purchasing behavior. By analyzing this data, Roblox Corporation designs experiences that prey on minors, encouraging microtransactions and fostering addiction through “dark patterns” in game design.

Video Game Addiction

Video game addiction, also known as internet gaming disorder, significantly disrupts an individual’s ability to control their gaming habits, often taking precedence over essential life activities. This can negatively impact self-care, personal relationships, and productivity at school or work. The addiction also interferes with cognitive functions such as time perception and decision-making, leading to social withdrawal, heightened anger, and a diminished interest in other hobbies.

The problem is escalating globally, fueled by the growing accessibility of online and cloud gaming. These platforms often feature in-game purchases, which can exacerbate addictive behaviors, particularly among minors and young adults. This trend is largely driven by gaming companies that design games to be intentionally addictive, aiming to boost profits through microtransactions and similar revenue-generating mechanisms.

Video Game Addiction Lawsuits

A growing number of video game addiction lawsuits are being filed in courts across the country. These lawsuit are being brought on behalf of young people who have been significantly harmed by addiction to video games such as Roblox. The lawsuits accuse the video game companies of various types of wrongdoing and negligence, including the use of deceptive trade practices, putting profit of customer safety, and targeting minors.

Failure to Warn

There are several different legal claims being asserted in video game addiction lawsuits. The primary claim, however, is negligent failure to warn. This theory asserts that video game manufacturers had a duty to warn potential consumers about the addictive nature of their product and the harmful consequences of becoming addicting to the video games. The lawsuits essentially seek to hold the game companies liable for injuries resulting from this negligent failure to warn.

Defective Design

The other major legal theory being asserted in video game addiction lawsuits is design defect. This theory essentially argues that some video games are defective in their design because they exploit vulnerable users’ inability to appreciate risks, making the products exceptionally addictive. The allegations further allege that the manufacturers knew about this inherent design defect in their games, but failed to adopt less harmful designs or features that would have made the games less addictive. The lawsuits assert that this failure directly led to physical and mental injuries from video game addiction.

Consequences and Injuries from Video Gaming Addiction

Video gaming addiction, or internet gaming disorder, can lead to a range of physical, psychological, and social consequences. Prolonged and excessive gaming can disrupt daily life and negatively affect overall well-being. Below are some common consequences and injuries associated with video gaming addiction:

Physical Injuries

• Musculoskeletal Issues: Repeated use of controllers or keyboards can result in conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, or “gamer’s thumb.” Prolonged sitting may also cause back and neck pain.
• Eye Strain: Extended screen time can lead to digital eye strain, characterized by headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes.
• Sleep Disorders: Late-night gaming sessions often disrupt sleep patterns, leading to insomnia and chronic fatigue.
• Obesity and Sedentary Lifestyle Risks: Prolonged inactivity can result in weight gain, cardiovascular issues, and metabolic problems.

Psychological Injuries

• Cognitive Impairments: Addiction may impair decision-making, attention span, and time management skills.
• Emotional Instability: Gamers may experience heightened aggression, frustration, or irritability, especially when unable to play.
• Mental Health Issues: Gaming addiction is often linked to depression, anxiety, and increased stress levels.
• Social Isolation: Excessive gaming can lead to withdrawal from friends and family, weakening personal relationships and social skills.

Behavioral and Social Injuries

• Academic and Professional Decline: Gaming addiction can interfere with focus and productivity, leading to poor performance at school or work.
• Financial Strain: Many addicts spend large amounts of money on in-game purchases or subscriptions, causing financial difficulties.
• Poor Hygiene and Self-Care: Neglecting basic self-care routines is common among those deeply engrossed in gaming.

Long-Term Injuries:

• Chronic Health Problems: Prolonged poor posture and inactivity can result in long-term musculoskeletal and cardiovascular issues.
• Gaming-Induced Seizures: Rarely, excessive gaming, especially in individuals with photosensitivity, can trigger seizures.
• Addiction Cycle: Continued gaming to escape real-world stress can reinforce the addiction, perpetuating a harmful cycle.

Settlement Value of Roblox Addiction Lawsuits

Estimating the potential settlement value of mass tort lawsuits is inherently challenging in the early stages of litigation, as numerous variables and unknowns can influence settlement outcomes. This is especially true for video game addiction lawsuits, which are still in their infancy and involve highly unique circumstances. Unlike other types of litigation, there are few comparable cases to serve as benchmarks for estimating potential settlement payouts.

However, it is possible to provide some reasonable estimates by focusing on the nature of the alleged injuries and drawing comparisons to settlements for similar types of harm. In video game addiction cases, the primary injuries often involve mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, social isolation, sleep deprivation, and anger. Most cases are likely to include a combination of these conditions.

The settlement value for individual cases will likely vary based on the severity of the plaintiff’s injuries and the degree to which their life was affected by their addiction. High-value cases will typically involve plaintiffs who can demonstrate that their addiction led to severe or debilitating conditions—such as depression or anxiety—that caused significant disruptions, such as failing out of school, losing a job, or even suicide. These cases may involve life-altering consequences, making them the most likely to command substantial settlements.

On the other hand, cases with less severe impacts, where the addiction caused fewer disruptions or consequences, are expected to fall on the lower end of the settlement spectrum.

Lawsuits involving severe injuries, such as debilitating mental health conditions or life-ruining consequences, may have settlement values between $100,000 and $350,000. Unique cases involving death or permanent injuries could potentially exceed this range. Lawsuits involving less severe consequences, where the addiction had a milder impact, may have settlement values ranging from $25,000 to $90,000.

Who is Eligible to Bring a Roblox Addiction Lawsuit?

Our firm is currently accepting new Roblox addiction lawsuits, but we have some specific criteria for eligible plaintiffs. Our eligibility criteria for these cases is as follows:

• Gamer must be 24-years-old or younger
• Gamer played Roblox for at least 2 hours per day for minimum of 5 weeks (70 hours over 5 weeks)
• Gamer has been medically diagnosed with any of the following conditions: gamer’s rage, depression, anxiety, seizures, orthopedic injuries.
• Gamer has received treatment for gaming addiction or disorders related to game addiction

Contact Us About Video Game Addiction Lawsuits

Our firm is seeking Roblox addiction lawsuits across the country. If you have suffered physical or mental harm as a result of addiction to Roblox (or other video games), call us today for a free case evaluation. Call us at 800-553-8082 or contact us online.