Game Devs object to accusing their games of being addictive simply because they give players „too much” fun.
Some publishers have been accused of intentionally incorporating “addictive” mechanics into games in order to compel players to make payments for aggressive microtransactions. Lawsuits have recently been filed against Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, Epic Games, Rockstar Games, and numerous other developers and publishers, alleging the inclusion of “addictive psychological features” in their games (via PC Gamer).
Games as a destructive addiction
For reminder: one of these lawsuits (filed in the last 12 months) ended up in court in the American state of Arkansas and was brought by Elizabeth Jones, a mother claiming that her son had become addicted to games. Over the course of 9 years, this was supposed to result in him dropping out of school, being diagnosed with serious depressive disorders and “withdrawal symptoms such as rage, anger, and physical outbursts.” And spending 350 dollars a month on video games.
