On Saturday, Epic Games will host a discussion about race in the United States within the popular video game, Fortnite. In association with marketing firm Opus United, the event will be hosted by author and commentator Van Jones. Guests will include Jemele Hill, Elaine Welteroth, and Killer Mike. The event will air in-game for 24 hours on July 4.
According to a press release released today, the event is titled We The People. She will present “a series of conversations promoting dialogue about race in the United States with prominent BIPOC voices (black, indigenous, and colored) in business, sports, media, music, and entertainment.” It will be available within the Party Royale mode, which performed a debut concert in May.
We The People starts at 8:46 am CT on Saturday. The timing is symbolic of George Floyd’s murder, as it is a reference to the amount of time Floyd was immobilized by the Minneapolis police. His death, which multiple autopsies have ruled a homicide, started an international wave of protests against racism and police brutality.
This is not the first time that players have been invited to Fortnite for more than just a battle royale game. The highly popular free game has become a major social hub, with concerts, movie screenings, and promotional events.
