Class Action Accuses Epic Games, Fortnite of Manipulating Kids
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Epic Games, makers of Fortnite game, is being accused in a class action lawsuit of manipulating children into spending real world money on virtual game items.

California mom Jillian Williams is arguing Epic Games, through its Fortnite game, cheats her child and her pocketbook by dangling virtual features and upgrades in misleading ways.

The makers of the video game once described as "heroin for kids" made headlines two years ago when children were being sent to rehab over playing Fortnite obsessively .

Fortnite was released by Epic Games in 2017 and has exploded in popularity. Epic Games sells two versions of Fortnite, Battle Royale and Save the World.

Williams says while the Battle Royale version of Fortnite may be free, the game entices children to pay without knowing the real cost.

Fortnite players can use real money to buy virtual content for various purposes in the game, Williams explains in the complaint. This content includes character "skins," special gliders, unique dance moves, material to build with, ammunition and other upgrades.

These purchases are made in-game with so-called "V-bucks," a virtual currency which Epic Games does not refund once traded.

By swapping packs of V-bucks for real dollars, Epic Games is hiding the real value, Williams alleges. The smallest amount that can be purchased is 1,000 V-bucks for $7.99, according to the class action lawsuit.

Williams says Epic Games sets up purchases this way so players, especially children, won't be able to tell the real cost unless they determined the conversion rate and multiplied the cost of the virtual currency by that rate.

She points to a pair of economists from the European University Viadrina Frankfurt who concluded in a Jan. 2020 study that this creates a "money illusion."

Fortnite's alleged manipulation doesn't end there, according to the class action. In addition to obscuring value, the game allegedly makes it too easy for these in-game purchases to happen. The game stores credit or debit card details so all a player has to do is push a button.

"This combination of easy purchasing at a concealed cost explains why many players, especially minors, are willing to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on items and game content in Fortnite," the class action stated.

Once the V-bucks are bought players will find they'll need more, the class action contends. The packages are set up in a way to just fall short of the prices of items in the game.

Even more, according to the class action lawsuit, players will find they'll either need to eventually spend money on these items to advance in the game or spend an extraordinary amount of time playing it for free to get that item for free.

"Fortnite misleads and manipulates minors into making purchases of V-Bucks and, from there, items and game content in Fortnite without understanding the economic reality of those transactions," the class action stated.

Williams seeks to represent a nationwide class of minors who had a Fortnite account from July 2017 until the present, which was used to play Fortnite games and used or exchanged V-Bucks for game content use.

Do you or someone you know play Fortnite and racked up in-game charges? What do you think of this class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments below.

Counsel representing the plaintiffs in this class action lawsuit are Peter R. Afrasiabi, John E. Lord of One LLP; Maximillian N. Amster and Samuel J. Salario, Jr. of Bay Advocacy PLLC.

The Epic Games Class Action Lawsuit is Williams, et al. v. Epic Games, Inc. , Case No. 3:21-cv-00976 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

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