Table of contents
Our national mass tort lawyers at Nguyen Injury Lawyer are currently investigating potential lawsuits related to Call of Duty video game addiction. This page explores the game’s features that may contribute to addiction, the alleged failure to warn consumers about these risks, and the potential harm caused by video game addiction. We will also examine the allegations and legal claims in video game addiction lawsuits nationwide, along with the potential settlement values in these cases.
Video Game Addiction Lawsuits
Video Game Addiction Disorder
Video game addiction is now widely recognized as a genuine mental health disorder by both the medical community and the public. Prominent health organizations, including the American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organization, have acknowledged video game addiction (also known as “gaming disorder”) as a mental health “disease,” similar to gambling disorder.
The WHO defines gaming disorder or video game addiction as:
a pattern of gaming behavior (“digital-gaming” or “video-gaming”) characterized by impaired control over gaming, increasing priority given to gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other interests and daily activities, and continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.
For a diagnosis of gaming disorder, the behavior pattern must be severe enough to cause significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational, or other crucial areas of functioning. This pattern typically needs to be evident for at least 12 months.
This recognition stems from a growing body of research and expert opinions within the mental health field.
Symptoms of Video Game Addiction
The specific symptoms of video game addiction or gaming disorder can vary depending on individual circumstances, but they generally revolve around the compulsive and addictive playing of video games. According to the AMA, a clinical diagnosis of video game addiction can be made if an individual experiences five or more of the following symptoms within a one-year period:
- Preoccupation with gaming: Constant thoughts or obsession with gaming.
- Withdrawal symptoms: Feelings of sadness, anxiety, or irritability when unable to game.
- Increased tolerance: Needing to spend more time gaming to satisfy the urge.
- Difficulty cutting back: Repeatedly failing to reduce or quit gaming despite trying.
- Neglect of other activities: Losing interest in hobbies or activities previously enjoyed due to gaming.
- Gaming despite consequences: Continuing to play even when it causes personal, social, or professional problems.
- Deception: Hiding or lying about the amount of time spent gaming to family or others.
- Emotional escape: Using gaming as a way to cope with negative emotions like guilt or hopelessness.
- Significant risk: Endangering or losing a job, relationship, or other important aspect of life because of gaming.
It’s important to note that many of these symptoms, like “preoccupation with gaming,” are subjective and depend on individual situations.
Call of Duty
Call of Duty (CoD) is an extremely popular video game franchise in the “first-person shooter” (FPS) category, where players experience the game from a first-person perspective and engage in shooting. Developed by various video game studios, Call of Duty is currently published by Activision. As the publisher, Activision bears primary responsibility and potential liability for the game, effectively acting as the “manufacturer” under product liability law.
First released in 2003, Call of Duty has seen numerous new versions and gained widespread popularity, becoming the most popular and successful first-person shooter video game. The rise of online gaming has further boosted its popularity, allowing players to compete against each other online.
Like many video games, Call of Duty employs engaging features and psychological tactics to keep players, especially younger ones, hooked. Frequent updates, intense competitive gameplay, and appealing in-game purchases encourage prolonged gaming sessions. Limited-time events, exclusive rewards, and ranking systems create a sense of urgency and competition, compelling players to remain engaged. Social elements, such as team-based gameplay and leaderboards, amplify the pressure to continue playing, making it particularly challenging for minors to disengage from the game.
These features of Call of Duty can exploit the internal chemistry of adolescent brains, leading to compulsive behavior. When players achieve goals or experience success in the game, it triggers a chemical response in their brain. Repeated exposure to this response can lead to addiction, similar to the way addictive drugs affect the brain.
Health Consequences of Call of Duty Addiction
The effects of prolonged Call of Duty gameplay are significant and far-reaching, impacting players’ mental, cognitive, and physical well-being in concerning ways:
Mental Health Consequences
Excessive gameplay can lead to dependency and disrupt emotional stability. Players may experience increased anxiety, depression, and mood swings as they focus on in-game achievements over real-world relationships and responsibilities. This dependency can result in social isolation, particularly among young players who may withdraw from family, friends, and school activities to spend more time playing.
Cognitive Impacts
Excessive gaming has been linked to changes in brain development, especially in children and teens. Studies suggest that prolonged exposure to games like Call of Duty can alter the prefrontal cortex, which governs impulse control, decision-making, and critical thinking. These changes can impair emotional regulation, increase susceptibility to compulsive behaviors, and hinder the ability to effectively balance priorities.
Physical Health Issues
The physical consequences of extended gaming sessions are equally concerning. Poor posture during play can lead to musculoskeletal problems, such as back pain and neck strain. Frequent gamers may also experience repetitive strain injuries in their hands and wrists. Furthermore, prolonged screen time can disrupt sleep cycles, leading to fatigue and potentially hindering growth and development in children.
Developmental Impairment
The cumulative effects of these issues can hinder a child’s social, emotional, and academic progress. Over time, the cycle of excessive gameplay may contribute to long-term challenges, such as chronic anxiety, social difficulties, and physical health problems stemming from years of neglect.
Call of Duty’s immersive design and broad appeal make these risks especially concerning. What often begins as a creative outlet can easily become an all-consuming activity, with harmful repercussions for a child’s short- and long-term well-being.
Vulnerable Groups Face Higher Risk
Certain groups of adolescents with pre-existing neurological conditions, such as attention deficit disorder (ADD) or ADHD, are at a higher risk of developing video game addiction from Call of Duty. Individuals with ADHD often struggle with impulse control, making it particularly difficult for them to disengage from hyper-stimulating activities. This significantly increases their risk of becoming addicted to games like Call of Duty.
Children with ADHD and similar disorders are not only more likely to become addicted to games like Call of Duty, but they are also more susceptible to the mental and physical health issues commonly associated with gaming disorder. These children often face challenges with focus and learning, and addiction to Call of Duty can exacerbate these difficulties.
Call of Duty Timeline
Below is a timeline of Call of Duty’s history and the growing awareness of the risks associated with video games like CoD.
- 2003:
- Release of Call of Duty: The first Call of Duty game, developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision, is released. It focuses on World War II and gains acclaim for its immersive gameplay and cinematic quality.
- Initial studies on video games and aggression begin to appear, with concerns about violent video games’ impact on aggression gaining traction, but the focus is on arcade games and earlier consoles.
- 2005:
- Call of Duty 2: A sequel is launched, becoming a major hit and pushing the franchise further into mainstream popularity.
- The American Psychological Association (APA) begins to publish reports on violent video games, suggesting a potential link to aggression, though findings are contested.
- 2006:
- Call of Duty 3: Released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, it is the first game in the series to be developed by Treyarch.
- Studies focus on first-person shooters like Call of Duty, raising concerns about desensitization to violence.
- 2007:
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare: Introduces a modern setting and becomes a massive cultural phenomenon, redefining multiplayer gaming with its progression-based online system.
- Media outlets intensify the overdue conversation of the impact of immersive multiplayer experiences on children and adolescents, particularly regarding time spent gaming.
- 2008:
- Call of Duty: World at War: Returns to a World War II setting while introducing the popular “Zombies” mode.
- Early lawsuits emerge, claiming that violent video games contribute to real-world violence, although courts largely dismiss these claims due to a lack of direct evidence.
- 2009:
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2: Breaks sales records and includes the controversial “No Russian” mission, sparking debates about the ethics of depicting graphic violence in games.
- Studies begin to investigate potential links between violent games and empathy reduction, but findings remain inconclusive.
- 2011:
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3: Breaks entertainment sales records, selling 6.5 million copies in 24 hours.
- In Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that video games are protected under the First Amendment, striking down a California law that sought to ban the sale of violent games to minors.
- 2013:
- Call of Duty: Ghosts: Launches with a new storyline, but receives mixed reviews compared to earlier titles.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledges “gaming disorder” as a condition requiring further study, with first-person shooters frequently cited. In turn, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) first included Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) in 2013 (as a condition warranting further study).
- 2014:
- Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare: Features futuristic exoskeletons and Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey in a prominent role.
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigates marketing practices for violent video games but nothing really comes of it.
- 2017:
- Call of Duty: WWII: Returns to its roots with a World War II setting.
- Lawsuits begin to explore the addictive nature of video games, targeting “loot box” mechanics, which are accused of promoting gambling behavior.
- 2020:
- Call of Duty: Warzone: A free-to-play battle royale game launches, reaching over 100 million players by the end of the year.
- Class-action lawsuits emerge, alleging that game companies exploit psychological triggers to create addiction, particularly in children and adolescents.
- 2022:
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II: A reboot of the 2009 game is released, becoming the fastest Call of Duty game to earning an incredible $1 billion in sales.
The Ongoing Debate Surrounding Call of Duty
Governments worldwide, including those in the U.K. and China, are implementing stricter regulations on video game playtime for minors, driven by concerns about mental health and academic performance.
2023:
Studies emerge that highlight both the potential risks, such as addiction and aggression, and the possible benefits, including teamwork and cognitive improvements, associated with games like Call of Duty.
2024:
Lawsuits against Activision Blizzard begin to explore whether games like Call of Duty are intentionally designed with “predatory” psychological techniques to encourage excessive playtime and spending. Research supports these lawsuits.
2025:
Ongoing Scrutiny:
As Call of Duty remains a highly popular franchise, academic and legal investigations into its social, psychological, and economic impacts continue, with a particular focus on addiction and microtransactions. More Call of Duty lawsuits are expected.
Call of Duty Addiction Lawsuits
Across the country, young people and their families are filing video game addiction lawsuits, alleging injuries resulting from gaming disorder caused by highly addictive games like Call of Duty. These lawsuits seek financial compensation for victims who have suffered significant harm due to their addiction.
These lawsuits are fundamentally product liability cases. Under U.S. product liability law, manufacturers can be held responsible when their products cause harm to consumers. There are three primary claims in product liability cases: failure to warn, design defect, and manufacturing defect.
The Call of Duty addiction lawsuits are based on two of these legal claims: failure to warn and defective design.
Failure to Warn
The strongest claims in these lawsuits center on negligent failure to warn. Product manufacturers have a legal obligation to inform consumers about potential risks associated with their products. Failure to warn about known risks can result in liability for resulting injuries.
The Call of Duty lawsuits argue that Activision had a duty to warn consumers about the potentially addictive nature of its Call of Duty games. They further assert that Activision should have specifically warned about the potentially harmful effects of video game addiction and the increased risk for certain groups. The lawsuits claim that Activision negligently failed to issue such warnings on its Call of Duty games, directly causing injuries to numerous plaintiffs.
Design Defect
When a product’s design flaw makes it potentially dangerous or capable of causing harm when used as intended, the manufacturer can be held liable for damages resulting from the flaw. A central legal theory in the video game addiction lawsuits is that games like Call of Duty were deliberately designed to be addictive.
Potential Settlement Value of Call of Duty Addiction Lawsuits
The video game addiction litigation is in its early stages, and no cases have yet gone to trial or been resolved through settlement. Therefore, any estimates regarding the potential settlement value of Call of Duty addiction cases at this point are speculative. However, by making certain assumptions about the validity of these cases, we can offer a meaningful estimate based on settlement payouts in prior litigation involving similar claims and injuries.
Any settlement in the Call of Duty or video game addiction lawsuits will likely involve individual payouts based on a tiered system, where the amount a plaintiff receives depends on the strength of their case and the severity of their injuries. Plaintiffs with the most severe injuries will be in the highest settlement tier (Tier 1), while those with lesser injuries will be in the lowest tier (Tier 3).
Tier 1 – Severe Injuries: $270,000 to $1.8 million
We anticipate that settlement payouts for the top tier will range from $270,000 to $1,800,000. Cases in this tier will involve plaintiffs who have suffered very serious injuries that have had a permanent or devastating impact on their lives.
Tier 2 – Moderate Injuries: $45,000 to $260,000
The second tier will include plaintiffs who can demonstrate moderate injuries. This category will include cases where the plaintiff suffered severe harm, but the harm was temporary and did not result in permanent impairment. These cases will likely have a settlement range of $45,000 to $260,000.
Tier 3 – Minor Injuries: $2,500 to $40,000
Plaintiffs with comparatively minor injuries resulting from their video game addiction will be placed in the lowest settlement tier. These plaintiffs will likely receive smaller settlement payouts ranging from $2,500 to $40,000.
Why Call of Duty Lawsuit Settlements Could Be Higher Than Other Video Games
Call of Duty video games might command higher settlement payouts, if these lawsuits are successful, compared to other gaming franchises because they combine addictive design features with explicit violence, creating a dual-layered impact on players that games like Roblox and Minecraft, for example, do not have.
Settlement amounts in lawsuits may reflect the unique harm caused by this combination of addiction and exposure to graphic violence, especially if plaintiffs can demonstrate its direct impact on their mental health, behavior, or well-being.
Moreover, lawsuits involving Call of Duty are more likely to garner substantial settlement compensation due to the game’s massive popularity and its focus on war and combat scenarios. Plaintiffs may argue that the franchise’s design intentionally targets vulnerable players, particularly young audiences, with content that glamorizes violence while keeping them engaged for hours. It is fair to say that the potential for psychological harm, including addiction, violent outbursts, or increased anxiety, will resonate with juries, leading to higher settlement amounts.
Who is Eligible to File a Call of Duty Addiction Lawsuit?
Nguyen Injury Lawyer is currently accepting new Call of Duty addiction lawsuits from anyone who meets the following eligibility criteria:
- 24-years-old or younger
- Played Call of Duty for at least 2 hours per day for a minimum of 5 weeks (70 hours over 5 weeks)
- Medically diagnosed with any of the following conditions: gamer’s rage, depression, anxiety, seizures, orthopedic injuries.
- Received at least some medical treatment for gaming addiction or disorders related to game addiction
Contact Us About Video Game Addiction Lawsuits
Nguyen Injury Lawyer is accepting Call of Duty addiction lawsuits across the country. Contact us today for a free case evaluation. Call us at XXX-XXX-XXXX or contact us online.