Fortnite has captured the attention of gamers worldwide, but the addictive multiplayer shooter has also apparently been causing trouble among married couples.
In Fortnite's battle royale mode, players and teams try to outlast one another, among a field of a total of 100 players. Gamers have apparently gotten so good at it that some of them are even outlasting their marriages.
'Fortnite' Destroyed My Marriage!
According to a report from UK service Divorce Online, Fortnite is one of the online games that have recently been mentioned as part of the reason for a divorce filing. An investigation revealed that since the start of the year, Fortnite and other online games have been blamed as marriage wreckers in 200 divorce petitions.
The figure represents about 5 percent of the 4,665 petitions that Divorce Online has handled since Jan. 1. According to the service, which is one of the biggest filers of divorce papers in the United Kingdom, this is a good indicator of how relationships have changed over time due to the introduction of new addictions due to the arrival of "the digital revolution."
"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," Divorce Online said.
The figure does not include couples and Fortnite players in the United States, but it may be assumed that relationships are also being affected by the Battle Royale game in other countries.
'Fortnite' Addiction Grips The World
The World Health Organization recognized earlier this year that video game addiction is a mental health problem, and arguably, the leading cause for the issue over the previous year has been Fortnite. The multiplayer shooter has drawn gamers of all ages, and in one extreme case, a nine-year-old girl was forced into rehab to treat her extreme Fortnite addiction.
A report last month revealed that parents are helping their kids get better at the game by paying Fortnite trainers up to $20 per hour. While this may be considered as dragging children into Fortnite addiction, it can also be seen as a way for parents to bond with their families, especially those who also spend time playing the game with their kids.
Fortnite has engaged children, teenagers, and married adults, and continues its dominance as one of the most popular online games in the world. However, Fortnite addiction is a legitimate problem, and it is up to friends and family members to help prevent the love for a video game to turn into a health issue.
