A child psychologist has blamed Epic’s popular shooter on a resent uptick in young children attending classes for addiction.
Behavioural specialist Lorrine Marer has some rather unkind things to say about Fortnite, saying ‘the game is like heroin’ and that ‘once you’re hooked, it’s hard to get unhooked.
Check out this video below of one parent on This Morning explaining her son’s issues with the game:
According to Bloomberg, there have apparently been multiple reports of addiction to the game in minors, including a case of a 17-year-old boy that habitually played the game for at least 12 hours a day.
It’s been noted that popular sports personalities playing and endorsing a game that should be played responsibly, can contribute to a child’s likelihood to want to play it.
But it’s also having an effect on the stars themselves.
Bloomberg also states professional athletes are getting hooked, too.
The National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks had so much trouble getting players to meetings and dinners they banned Fortnite on the road.
David Price, star pitcher for Major League Baseball’s World Series-winning Boston Red Sox, was scratched from a May start against their arch-rivals, New York Yankees, because of wrist problems which may have been exacerbated by Fortnite playing.
Fortnite has over 200 million subscribers making it one of the most played games in history.
In October, it’s thought Epic made $1.25 billion from an investor group, and the company now has an estimated worth of around $15 billion.
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