Occasionally, a new video game comes on the scene and sweeps the gaming community. Fascination with the new video game, Fortnite, has exploded, and many people have complained about the effect the game has on their family and social relationships. It seems the game is not only affecting relationships. In some cases, Fortnite is ending marriages.
According to Divorce Online, over 200 couples have recently filed for divorce, citing Fortnite and video game disorder as the reason for the petition. Since its launch in 2017, over 125 million people have become Fortnite registered players, raking in over $1 billion of revenue for the corporate video game giant, Epic Games.
Gaming Factors
Fortnite is a battle game where players can register and become part of a larger network of players around the world. The battle game involves players trying to save the world from extinction after an unknown force destroyed all but two percent of the population. Players use weapons and tools that they build to destroy zombie creatures and other obstacles.
In a survey issued by LendEDU, a financial education website, approximately one-third of registered Fortnite players spend more than 11 hours a week online playing the game. When you factor in work and school schedules, social obligations, and childcare, 11 hours a week is a big chunk of time taken out of the marital relationship.
Gaming Disorder
Preoccupation with video games is not a new phenomenon. The World Health Organization formally acknowledged gaming disorder as a mental illness that robs people of their time and negatively impacts their intimate and social relationships. Players with the disorder begin to replace social engagements and work or school obligations with gaming action. The disorder is being recognized as a baseline that leads to the breakdown of spousal relationships that end in divorce.
A survey conducted by Brigham Young University in 2013 revealed that 72 percent of spouses say gaming has been detrimental to their marriage. Those with gaming disorder often stop communicating and conversing with spouses, refuse to give up gaming time to engage in social interactions, and display disinterest in the lives of their spouse and children. Arguments over the time spent on video gaming and the preoccupation with Fortnite has escalated to the point that spouses are now filing for divorce in alarming numbers.
Towson Divorce Lawyers at Huesman, Jones & Miles, LLC Offer Divorce Counsel and Representation
If you or someone you know is contemplating divorce, call the Towson divorce lawyers at Huesman, Jones & Miles, LLC at 443-589-0150, or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Our team understands how this can affect a marital relationship, and we aim to walk you through the divorce process with the least amount of stress possible. With offices located in Hunt Valley and Towson, Maryland, we proudly serve clients throughout the state, including the areas of Baltimore, Baltimore County, Bel Air, Columbia, Westminster, Essex, Monkton, Sparks, Parkton, Carroll County, Harford County, and Howard County.
