Dutch organization Stichting Massaschade & Consument (SMC) has launched a massive class action lawsuit against Epic Games, accusing the creators of “Fortress Heroes” of misleading underage users. The fund is seeking more than 100 million euros in damages for unexpected expenses and psychological distress after local regulator ACM decided last year to fine the studio for aggressive sales practices.
The plaintiffs’ claims involve not only questionable timers and constant purchase requests in the in-game store, but also the overall concept of the project. SMC said the design elements intentionally create gaming addiction in children, while automatically initiating voice chats and collecting information without parents’ knowledge violates GDPR privacy standards. A survey of teenagers shows that many gamers regret spending spontaneously in virtual worlds.
In this regard, the Epic Games press service said that it has powerful parental control tools, including PIN code requests at checkout, strict restrictions on Dutch users, and protection features for children’s accounts. The company has previously faced similar claims and hefty fines from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
