With the U.S. 2024 presidential election just days away, Vice President Kamala Harris is making a unique play to connect with gamers—an audience often sidelined in political campaigns.
Today, her campaign launched Freedom Town, USA, a custom Fortnite map designed to resonate with younger voters and reflect key aspects of her platform, IGN reported.
See Also: Ten Days Out, Democrats Fear Harris Is Falling Behind
Freedom Town, USA: A Creative Campaign Strategy
Freedom Town, USA is now live in Fortnite Creative, inviting players to explore a themed world that centers around Harris’ campaign promises, such as tax breaks for small businesses and a focus on affordable housing.
Gamers can access the map using the code 733155366547, and it will be showcased in dedicated streams by popular Fortnite content creators like Jordan “Huskerss” Thomas and MODELMORG. This initiative not only offers a fun gaming experience but also serves as a way to engage players in discussions about important political issues.
Harris' outreach to young, male voters through gaming extends beyond this map. The campaign recently held a Geeks & Nerds for Harris fundraiser, featuring Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who streamed games like Madden NFL and Crazy Taxi on Twitch.
In addition, they have placed ads across mobile games, sports betting platforms, and YouTube channels, making a concerted effort to increase visibility among younger audiences.
A Different Approach In Political Context
Harris' strategy stands in stark contrast to former President Donald Trump's previous comments about video games. During his presidency, Trump attributed the influence of violent video games to issues like the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
His administration even released a reel featuring violent games, suggesting they negatively impacted youth. In light of this history, Harris’ gaming initiative marks a refreshing pivot, focusing instead on engagement and community building.
Freedom Town, USA is one of at least eight politically-themed Fortnite maps that feature custom models, signage, and thematic audio cues to enhance the gaming experience. A particularly notable audio cue includes a quote from Trump: "they’re eating the dogs, eating the cats."
Read Next:
Image created using photos from Shutterstock.
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Comments
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.
