profit Archives

AppWizard

January 30, 2026

Addicted Gamer Sues Fortnite and Minecraft Over Video Game Addiction

A US gamer, Cayden Breeden, has filed a lawsuit against Epic Games, Microsoft Corporation, and Mojang Studios in New York, claiming that Fortnite and Minecraft are designed to exacerbate video game addiction. The lawsuit alleges that the companies failed to inform players about the dangers of excessive gaming and did not implement safeguards against compulsive gaming, which Breeden characterizes as negligent and fraudulent. He describes his gaming habits as compulsive, leading to withdrawal-like symptoms when not playing, and seeks compensation for pain, suffering, emotional distress, and related costs. The case argues that the design mechanics of both games promote extended play and addictive behaviors, despite lacking traditional gambling elements. This lawsuit is part of a growing trend of legal actions against gaming companies in the US. Community reactions on Reddit have varied, with some users expressing skepticism about the lawsuit's viability and others discussing the balance between personal responsibility and corporate accountability in game design. The outcome of the case could impact future game design and regulatory compliance in the industry. No formal statements have been made by the defendants regarding the lawsuit.

AppWizard

January 30, 2026

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 left a gaping, $28 million hole in Paradox’s year-end financial report

Paradox Interactive's year-end financial report indicates a 23% increase in revenue compared to the same quarter last year, marking it as the company's "second-best quarter ever." However, operating profit decreased by 162%, resulting in an overall loss of 245.4 million Swedish kronor, primarily due to the poor performance of Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, which led to a write-down of 355 million kronor. Without this write-down, Paradox would have reported a profit of around 110 million kronor, though this would still be less than the previous year's operating profit of 395.3 million kronor. Additionally, fluctuating foreign exchange rates negatively impacted the company's financial results, with the dollar depreciating by approximately 12% and the euro by 5-6%.

AppWizard

January 28, 2026

Man sues Minecraft and Fortnite saying they fueled his video game addiction

A video game player, Cayden Breeden, has filed a lawsuit against the creators of Fortnite and Minecraft, as well as Microsoft, in the New York Southern District Court, claiming he developed an addiction to these games. The 56-page complaint alleges that the companies failed to implement necessary safeguards against gaming addiction, which Breeden argues poses significant risks to players. He accuses the companies of negligence and fraud, stating that their business practices are deceptive and exacerbate gaming addiction for profit. Breeden describes his gaming habits as compulsive and disordered, leading to withdrawal-like symptoms such as anger and antisocial behavior. He is seeking compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, medical expenses, and attorney's fees. This lawsuit reflects a growing trend of legal actions against game developers for practices that encourage addictive behaviors, with similar cases being filed in recent years.

AppWizard

January 27, 2026

Valves faces $900 million lawsuit, accused of abusing its dominance in PC gaming to over-charge for games and DLC, as UK court says the case can continue

The UK Competition Appeal Tribunal has allowed a lawsuit against Valve, alleging that the company has used its market dominance to charge inflated prices for games and downloadable content (DLC). The lawsuit, set for 2024, seeks £656 million in damages, claiming that up to 14 million UK gamers may have overpaid between £22 and £44 since June 5, 2018. Vicki Shotbolt, an advocate for children's digital rights, is the proposed class representative for the case, which is part of her campaign "Steam You Owe Us." A judgment on January 26 confirmed the case can proceed to trial, but it does not indicate the merits of the claims. The tribunal's decision suggests there may be grounds to explore allegations of unfair pricing practices by Valve. Additionally, a UK court has ruled that in-game gold can be classified as "property," making it subject to theft laws.

AppWizard

January 27, 2026

Gamer Sues Makers of Minecraft and Fortnite for Video Game Addiction

A player, Cayden Breeden, has filed a lawsuit against Epic Games, Microsoft Corporation, and Mojang Studios, claiming that his addiction to Fortnite and Minecraft is due to the companies' game designs. The 56-page complaint alleges negligence and fraud, stating that the companies failed to implement necessary safeguards to mitigate excessive gaming risks and did not warn players about these dangers. Breeden describes his gaming habits as compulsive and disordered, leading to significant personal consequences, including withdrawal symptoms such as anger and antisocial behavior. He is seeking damages for pain, emotional distress, medical expenses related to his addiction, and legal costs.

AppWizard

January 27, 2026

Nightdive boss says no one’s making immersive sims because they appeal to ‘a very small, niche group’ and tend to ‘come together at the 12th hour,’ even though it’s obviously the best genre

The immersive simulation genre is considered a pinnacle of gaming, offering unique experiences that blend creativity and interaction. However, the production of immersive sims is rare due to financial challenges. Stephen Kick, CEO of Nightdive Studios, noted that these games typically appeal to a small, dedicated fanbase, which is insufficient to influence corporate decisions. Despite this, Kick and his team pursue these games for their artistic value rather than financial performance. The development of immersive sims is complex, with the game's essence often crystallizing only in the final stages. Nightdive Studios has managed to allocate the necessary resources for their projects, but as budgets increase, companies become less willing to take risks on niche audiences. Even successful immersive sims may only reach a limited audience of dedicated fans and industry insiders.

AppWizard

January 26, 2026

Microsoft backs court injunction against Google

Microsoft has filed a friend-of-the-court brief urging a federal court to maintain an injunction against Google, which requires the company to dismantle its alleged monopoly in the Android apps market, particularly regarding payment practices. This injunction stems from Epic Games' lawsuit against Google, initiated in 2020. On January 16, Microsoft submitted its brief ahead of a court hearing where Google and Epic are seeking modifications to a permanent injunction issued in October 2024. The proposed changes could allow Google to impose fees between 9% and 20% on app developers, which Microsoft argues would undermine the original intent of the injunction. A recent settlement between Google and Epic includes a partnership valued at 0 million over six years, but details remain confidential. Judge Donato is reviewing the settlement and has requested briefings from the FTC and appointed an expert witness for evaluation. Epic Games has also announced that its games app is now available on Google Play worldwide.

AppWizard

January 17, 2026

How to complete Modern Prometheus and find four zombie body parts in Quarantine Zone

Players in the Quarantine Zone can undertake the quest "Modern Prometheus," which involves a survivor named Stuart who arrives with a zombified head and requests additional zombie body parts for an experiment. To complete the quest, players must reach day 20, allow Stuart entry into the survivor block, ensure his safety, confiscate body parts from survivor baggage, and engage in conversation with him after collecting four parts. After admitting Stuart, players must protect him from threats while sourcing the necessary zombie body parts, which cannot be obtained from liquidation or the laboratory. Once all four parts are collected, players discuss the experiment with Stuart, who ultimately meets his demise, leading to a small outbreak of zombies in the survivor base. Players must then eliminate the zombies and can collect a reward of 0 and a severed head collectible from Stuart's belongings.

AppWizard

January 6, 2026

Terra Invicta Finally Enters Full Release, Day One On Game Pass And PC

Terra Invicta has officially launched on PC and is available on Game Pass. Developed by Pavonis Interactive and published by Hooded Horse, the game focuses on humanity's response to an impending alien invasion, featuring seven factions with distinct ideologies. The game includes political maneuvering, space colonization, and hard science fiction elements, emphasizing realistic mechanics in space combat and resource management. It is priced at £34.99 for standalone purchase and has received a "Very Positive" rating on Steam. Currently, there are no plans for an Xbox console version.

AppWizard

January 6, 2026

In 2025, Monster Hunter fell prey to profit

Capcom's Monster Hunter Wilds sold 8 million copies within three days of its release, making it the fastest-selling title in the company's history. However, the game's review ratings on Steam fluctuated between Mixed and Mostly Negative due to performance issues, leading to a drop in sales from 10 million at launch to fewer than 500,000 in a single quarter. Capcom's net sales fell by 24.7% year-over-year and profits dropped nearly 40%. The company has introduced 190 microtransaction items for the game, while significant improvements to its optimization are not expected until February.