Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speaking. (Photo by Julian Wasser//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)
A new exhibit in Fortnite hopes to provide players with both fun and education. March Through Time, a new interactive experience for the online video game, acknowledges the social justice efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., according to multiple news outlets.
This exhibit offers attendees an “immersive journey” through a section called “DC 63,” which is a recreation of the city during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. As part of this trip, players will travel to several sites throughout Washington, DC, including the National Mall and Lincoln Memorial where they will hear Martin Luther King Jr.’s 17-minute “I Have a Dream” speech.
“To enrich the experience, Epic Games, the makers of Fortnite, have added museum-themed points of interest and collaborative quests. Throughout the game, players are presented with activities that highlight an important theme of Dr. King’s speech: we move forward when we work together. The goal is ultimately to teach players about the Civil Rights Movement and MLK.
In a statement released on Thursday (Aug. 26), Epic Games community manager Ryan Broseker said, “Civil rights today are a struggle that we have benefitted from collective efforts of millions across the globe.”. As part of March Through Time, we hope that our community will be inspired to promote mutual respect and empathy towards all people regardless of race, religion, or sexual orientation.”.
Although the new game inspired by MLK honors the activist, the Martin Luther King Jr. organization founded by Coretta Scott King honors King himself. It was emphasized that Center didn’t participate in Epic’s decisions.
As Dr. King’s intellectual property is not licensed by the King Center, it did not contribute to the decision-making process as it relates to the endeavor with TIME Inc and PlayStation/Fortnite, the center tweeted after the news broke. Intellectual Property Management (IPM) is responsible for these license decisions.
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