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The shift from traditional gaming consoles to online gaming has paved the way for two new revenue drivers which plaintiffs allege are causing video game addiction: microtransactions and data collection.
► Microtransactions are in-game purchases for new features like weapons, items and even shortcuts; according to the suits, this model encourages gamers to play for longer and continue making purchases in order to advance in the game. Plaintiffs allege that companies' failure to disclose info about microtransactions prevents parents from making informed decisions before purchasing games for their children.
► Data collected about individual players allows developers to customize gaming experiences and use targeted advertising to increase playing time. For instance, companies use players' social media info to advertise microtransactions based on specific interests—and in multiplayer mode, a player who lacks a useful item may be matched with a player who possesses that item, encouraging the first player to purchase the item to gain a future competitive advantage.
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