Fortnite to Educate Players about History
Fortnite, the world’s biggest battle royale game, is eyeing its horizons beyond just entertainment. Developer Epic Games says it wants to use Fortnite to educate players about essential history, and it has just approved an ambitious Holocaust-based map to help make that happen. While the official Fortnite events have aimed to educate players about Martin Luther King Jr., they have been often overshadowed by trolls and memes. This time, it seems Fortnite might be serious.
“I have always loved history and culture,” says indie developer Luc Bernard, who is behind the creation of this educational experience within Fortnite. “I think we are living in a truly fascinating age where we can reach and engage a younger audience who may not have access to history through traditional means.”
Bernard’s map is a step toward creating a more empathetic and knowledgeable society. It features a curated museum with images, descriptions, and detailed events related to the Holocaust. It is not the first educational effort on Fortnite; Epic itself ran an event to teach players about Martin Luther King Jr. in April. However, Fortnite’s potential as an educational platform is still being explored, with improvements and changes being implemented along the way.
“The potential for Fortnite to help educate and enlighten the world is huge,” Bernard says. “Fortnite is a game that is played by millions of people worldwide and is even more popular with younger players. By educating players about the Holocaust, we can reach a generation who may not have had the opportunity for formal Education about the event.”
Previous attempts to educate players about the Holocaust were met by challenges due to the platform’s nature and the behavior of some users. However, Epic says it is committed to making Fortnite an educational platform. Indeed, its approval of this ambitious project shows just how serious it is.
Both official and user-created efforts have value. While Fortnite is a game and a platform that is used to entertain, it can also be used as a teaching tool. The fact that Fortnite is accessible globally, and its massive player base, make it a powerful force for education.
Fortnite’s potential as an educational platform also shows that, despite its origins as a battle royale game, it is a more than just a vehicle for entertainment. Fortnite is a global phenomenon, and it understands its massive audience. It knows that by educating players, it can contribute to creating a more empathetic and knowledgeable society.
If you want to learn about the Holocaust from within Fortnite, you can download the custom map from the Epic Games Launcher, here.
Featured image via Epic Games.
