A member of the UK royal family has called for “addictive” videogames to be banned. Speaking to mental health experts about the effects of social media and violent video games, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, says that Epic’s battle royale “shouldn’t be allowed.”
According to The Daily Express, Prince Harry said that Fortnite is “created to addict, an addiction to keep you in front of a computer for as long as possible,” branding the game “irresponsible,” and asking “where is the benefit of having it in your household?” The Duke went on to say that “parents have got their hands up – they don’t know what to do about it. It’s like waiting for the damage to be done.”
Fortnite has repeatedly come under fire from UK press since its battle royale mode exploded in popularity last year amid concerns that children were spending too much time playing the game. But it’s not just children – in 2018, addiction to online games is thought to have contributed to 5% of all UK divorces.