Fortnite being sued over "FOMO" tactics

In the Netherlands, Fortnite has already faced legal action due to these manipulative tactics, particularly after it was discovered that the 24-hour timers displayed were inaccurate more than half the time.

The illusion of limited availability has proven to be a lucrative tactic, and Fortnite employs it masterfully with their time-limited skins. Some of these skins disappear for years, while others remain available for days or even weeks after the supposed 24-hour deadline passes. It's a rather cunning ploy.

Frustrated by these practices, two parents of Fortnite players have decided to take action. According to Polygon, they filed a lawsuit in San Francisco on Wednesday, aiming to put an end to these tactics. Their primary focus is on the 24-hour timers and the FOMO they generate. The issue isn't so much the artificial scarcity of the skins themselves, but rather the limited-time "discounts" that intentionally pressure players to make immediate purchases, despite the fact that the items often remain available well beyond the timer more than half the time.

Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite, has stated their intention to contest these allegations, claiming that they have made adjustments to the item shop following the legal actions in the Netherlands.

The parents have accused Epic of violating several laws, including the North Carolina Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, the California Consumers Legal Remedies Act, the California False Advertising Law, the California Unfair Competition Law, and the Texas Unfair and Deceptive Practices Act. The lawsuit involves one plaintiff from California, another from Texas, and Epic Games, which is based in North Carolina, thus the reference to these specific State Acts.