Post by @gamesdotgg

Dutch consumer group Consumentenbond has filed a €100 million lawsuit against Epic Games, claiming Fortnite uses manipulative design to pressure children into spending real money. The case centres on the game's use of urgency-driven limited-time offers - countdown timers, rotating item shops, and exclusive skins that disappear after a set window. The group argues are specifically designed to exploit the psychological vulnerabilities of younger players. The lawsuit claims these tactics constitute unfair commercial practices under EU consumer law, with the €100 million figure representing estimated damages to Dutch consumers. It is not the first time Epic has faced legal pressure over Fortnite's monetisation as the company paid $520 million to the FTC in the US in 2022 over similar concerns around children and in-game purchases. Epic has not yet responded to the Dutch filing. With the EU's Digital Services Act now in full effect and regulators across Europe taking an increasingly hard line on dark patterns in gaming, the case could have implications well beyond the Netherlands. #fortnite #epicgames #fortniteseason #fortnitenews #gamingnews