‘Fortnite’ Unveils New In-Game Museum For Holocaust Education
In a new collaboration with Epic Games, the team behind the Holocaust education game The Light and the Darkness have built an in-game museum for Fortnite. The map called Voices of the Forgotten Museum is dedicated to players learning about the Holocaust.
“I cannot thank everyone at Epic Games enough for the support on this,” said Luc Bernard, director of The Light in the Darkness.
Out now on Fortnite, the Voices of the Forgotten Museum, the first Digital Holocaust Museum in the metaverse.
Island Code: 1511-8598-6202
I cannot thank everyone at Epic Games enough for the support on this. pic.twitter.com/tLvdUNWf63
— Luc Bernard (@LucBernard) August 15, 2023
“Super proud that we will be the first to bring something like this to Fortnite’s 400 million-plus players,” said Bernard in a social media post earlier this month. “80% of Americans haven’t visited a Museum. So this is game-changing.”
The first Holocaust Museum in Fortnite has been approved today by Epic Games.
Super proud that we will be the first to bring something like this to Fortnite’s 400 million + players.
80% of Americans haven’t visited a Museum. So this is game changing. pic.twitter.com/6FINFhi1fY
— Luc Bernard (@LucBernard) August 1, 2023
News of this museum drew a lot of flak for Bernard. Recent online anti-Semitic threats and more have unfortunately bombarded his social media.
“Despite the Nazis taking up a lot of the headlines. Epic Games have stood by me, and all the employees who have reached out made a difference,” said Bernard via social media. “They are the best company in gaming, and also fight hate and create a safe space for players. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
Despite the Nazis taking up a lot of the headlines.
Epic Games have stood by me, and all the employees who have reached out made a different.
They are the best company in gaming, and also fight hate and create a safe space for players.
Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. https://t.co/wb8JmcEKfu
— Luc Bernard (@LucBernard) August 11, 2023
There has even been a delay as Epic Games worried about vandalism coming from the threats.
However, this is not the first time Epic Games has implemented educational endeavors to their title. In an official partnership with the DuSable Museum of African American History and the Estate of Martin Luther King, Jr., Epic Games released a tribute to the legacy of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.
The museum seems to be taking a more professional route this time, with the differences being implemented. For example, several aspects of the normal gameplay have been banned on the map.
“Emotes and destruction and no weapons are enabled in this map,” said Bernard. “It’s more protected than even memorials where people take selfies.”
Despite the delays and everything else, it looks like Epic Games have made a platform for historical education once again for their player base. For a closer look, the island code is 1511-8598-6202.