The State of California has filed 18 new lawsuits against the online gaming platform Roblox, expanding its coordinated legal effort targeting alleged addictive design practices in the gaming industry.
The lawsuits, filed as part of broader game addiction proceedings, accuse Roblox Corporation of intentionally designing its platform to exploit minors and encourage compulsive behavior. Prosecutors allege the platform’s features are psychologically manipulative, contributing to emotional distress, behavioral issues, and financial harm among underage users.
Launched in 2006, Roblox is an online platform where users—primarily children and teenagers—can create and play games in user-generated virtual worlds. Players can customize avatars, interact socially, and purchase digital items through microtransactions. Critics say these small, recurring payments promote excessive in-game spending, often without parental knowledge.
Parents and advocacy groups have compared Roblox’s design to gambling, citing reward systems and in-game incentives that allegedly encourage prolonged gameplay and spending.
The lawsuits are part of a larger legal push that also names major companies including Microsoft, Epic Games, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Mojang, Apple, Google, Nintendo, and Sony. The coordinated cases claim the gaming industry broadly targets children through addictive mechanics and monetization strategies.
A case management conference is scheduled for Aug. 16, 2025. Attorneys for all parties are required to attend and submit a joint report by Aug. 22.
