But that's where the normality ends. The Russian teen, identified by local outlets as "Rustam," died after reportedly playing a game for 22 days straight.

He was reportedly playing "Defense of the Ancients," a multiplayer online game.

It wasn't necessarily the video game that killed him.

Doctors reportedly suspect deep vein thrombosis.  That's when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in a leg. This can happen if you don't move for a long time, which the teen hadn't done. The blood clot can break loose and cause death.

Even without the broken leg, investigators said evidence indicated the teen had most likely been playing the video game for nearly 2,000 hours over the previous year and a half.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Security wait times at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ranged from seven to 15 minutes around 3 p.m. Sunday, July 6, 2025, as travelers returned from the long Fourth of July weekend. (Gray Mollenkamp/AJC)

Credit: Gray Mollenkamp

Featured

University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue said joining neighboring states to form a new accreditation agency will “keep Georgia’s universities among the best in the nation." (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz/AJC