A Quebec judge has authorized a class-action lawsuit against the maker of the popular online video game, Fortnite, after parents of three children who played it argued it was too “addictive.”

When the original application was filed in 2019 against Epic Games Inc. and its Canadian subsidiary, the lawyers representing the plaintiffs said they believed this case was a world first.

Quebec Superior Court Justice Sylvain Lussier authorized the class-action suit on Wednesday.

Three parents from Quebec sued Epic Games, which is based in the U.S., alleging that the game’s creators deliberately designed the Battle Royale iteration of Fortnite to be “highly addictive” and that Fortnite caused their minor children to suffer psychological, physical, and financial harm. They are all seeking damages from the company that will be determined at a later date.

The video game manufacturer could be liable, according to the judge, who referred to safety defect provisions of Quebec’s Civil Code to support his finding.

None of the allegations in the class-action lawsuit have been proven in court.

Since its release in September 2017, the Fortnite game has risen in popularity, particularly during the pandemic. In 2020, the company said it had amassed more than 350 million players worldwide and during April of that year, players spent more than 3.2 billion hours playing the game.

Fortnite has also attracted celebrities to its virtual world in recent years, including electronic music producers Diplo and deadmau5.

KIDS ALLEGEDLY SPENT HUNDREDS ON GAME, DISASSOCIATED FROM FAMILY

The battle royale style of game sees 100 players battle it out on an island until