New Delhi/Britain: Addiction to a video game called ‘Fortnite’ is being blamed for hundreds of divorces across Britain. The Battle Royale game has been cited as a reason for 200 marriage break-ups in the UK so far this year.
Addictions to other computer games, porn and social media are also contributing to marriage break downs, according to new research by Divorce Online.
The study reveals Fortnite was responsible for around five per cent of the 4,665 divorces filed for since January 2018. Divorce Online said it had received 200 petitions since January 1 that named the Fortnite game and others as a key reason for ending their relationship.
The last-player-standing game has become a phenomenon since launching last year, amassing more than 125 million players in the process.
A spokesman for Divorce Online said: “Addiction to drugs, alcohol and gambling have often been cited as reasons for relationship breakdowns but the dawn of the digital revolution has introduced new addictions.
“These now include online pornography, online gaming and social media, so it is no surprise to us that more and more people are having relationship problems because of our digital addictions.
“These numbers equate to roughly 5% of the 4,665 petitions we have handled since the beginning of the year and as one of the largest filers of divorce petitions in the UK, is a pretty good indicator.”
Last week TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp revealed she had “smashed” her children’s iPads after discovering they had been playing Fortnite, and fellow battle royale game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) outside of agreed screen time hours.
Its unrivalled popularity has been partly fuelled by its availability for free on smartphones as well as on traditional home video game consoles, making it popular with teenage gamers.
But with its rise to prominence health experts have warned of the dangers of online gaming addiction, particularly among children.
The NHS has even offered to treat young gaming addicts for free, after it was recognised as a mental disorder.
Last week a four-year-old boy from Bicester, Oxfordshire broke his arm after trying to imitate a stunt he had seen players do inside the game.
Harrison Day missed his first day of primary school after jumping off a slide in his back garden while holding an umbrella – because he wanted to fly ‘like they do in Fortnite’.
Earlier this month a disabled mother was left penniless after her 10-year-old son stole her bank details to spend £1,193.25 on the game. Cleo Duckett, of Bridgend in South Wales, was devastated when she found out what her son Jayden-Lee had done.
Agencies