Lawsuit Targets Nintendo's Mario Kart Tour Microtransactions As 'Immoral' And Deceptive

A lawsuit targeting microtransactions in Nintendo ADR's NTDOY Mario Kart Tour stating they are "immoral," was filed by an underage gamer with the support of his father.

A lawsuit targeting microtransactions in Nintendo ADR's NTDOY Mario Kart Tour stating they are "immoral" was filed by an underage gamer with the support of his father.

According to Axios, the lawsuit specifically demanded refunds for all underage players in the U.S. who paid to access Mario Kart Tour's Spotlight Pipes.

These pipes granted in-game rewards to players who spent real money to repeatedly activate them, hoping for random and beneficial upgrades, all while using undisclosed odds.

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The lawsuit also alleged Nintendo deliberately designed the game to be difficult to progress without making payments. The use of "dark patterns," a term in the industry for manipulative techniques that deceive consumers, was said to have coerced players into spending more money.

The plaintiff claimed these practices violate the Consumer Protection Act of Washington State and California's business law.

Notably, Nintendo discontinued the use of Spotlight Pipes in Mario Kart Tour in September 2022, replacing them with a system that allows players to directly purchase items from the in-game shop.

This legal action against Nintendo was part of a broader trend where the monetization strategies employed by modern video games face increased governmental and legal scrutiny.

In December, the Federal Trade Commission imposed a $520 million fine on Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, for utilizing "dark patterns" to deceive players into unintentional purchases.

Additionally, European authorities were assessing whether Electronic Arts Inc's EA FIFA Ultimate Team, a revenue stream generating over $1 billion through loot boxes, constituted illegal gambling.

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