With less than a week left for the November 5 elections, the Kamala Harris and Tim Walz campaign has taken a new initiative to reach out to voters. They have partnered with Fortnite, Epic Games' free-to-play cross-platform online game, to develop a custom map for the campaign, which was launched Wednesday. A similar effort was seen in Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' 2020 campaign, where they launched a Biden-themed-island on Nintendo's 'Animal Crossing.'
The third-person-shooter video games feature islands where players are dropped for a contest – and there are many such customized islands within the module of the game, called maps. The Harris-Walz campaign has partnered with Epic Games to launch one such map – Freedom Town, USA.
As per IGN, a gaming news website, the map has been crafted with the key themes of the Harris campaign, such as tax breaks for small businesses and affordable housing.
How To Access Freedom Town Fortnite Map?
Players of the game Fortnite can access the Freedom Town, USA map from the Fortnite Creative section in the game. They will have to use a code – 733155366547. For those who just want to experience it without playing, they can check out Fortnite streamers, as some of them have already uploaded it.
Social media reacts
Social media had mixed reactions to the launch. Some said that it was a good way to reach out to Gen Z voters, a significant number of whom play games like Fortnite and Madden. Notably, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz played Madden NFL with a streamer, in a bid to reach out to young voters.
Others, meanwhile, slammed the VP for spending money on the game, terming it unnecessary and a waste of money.
Here are some of the reactions:
Kamala Harris campaign made a Fortnite map… Great example of how she uses money effectively. 🤡🤡 pic.twitter.com/macgIvLObq
— clipme (@dramaclip4u) October 28, 2024
This is incredible. Kamala HQ just launched a custom Fortnite map to reach young gamers and make sure they know the stakes of this election. Fully expanding the meaning of youth organizing. I love it. pic.twitter.com/D5yiyanVZU
— Santiago Mayer (@SSantiagoMayer) October 28, 2024
This is incredible. Kamala HQ just launched a custom Fortnite map to reach young gamers and make sure they know the stakes of this election. Fully expanding the meaning of youth organizing. I love it. pic.twitter.com/D5yiyanVZU
— Santiago Mayer (@SSantiagoMayer) October 28, 2024
Kamala Harris is making a Fortnite Map to get gamers to vote for her💀 #Fortnitepic.twitter.com/bfkFFNoo7t
— Peely Fortnite Leaks! (@PEELY_LEAKS1) October 28, 2024
Donald Trump's campaign has not taken any such initiative to reach out to gamers, so far.