Staff Reports
In a stunning display of modern political strategy, the Kamala Harris campaign has ventured into the digital battleground of “Fortnite,” with a twist that baffles many. Not content to allow players to engage in the typical “battle royale” shootouts that made the game famous, the campaign has imposed a bizarre restriction: no guns allowed. Instead, players are invited to frolic in a newly minted map dubbed Freedom Town, USA, where creativity takes precedence over competition—because who needs to shoot when you can build your way to political awareness?
Gone are the days when players could indulge in the exhilarating chaos of trying to be the last one standing. Now, Freedom Town encourages participants to embrace their inner builders and partake in games like hide-and-seek and parkour, all while getting a taste of Harris’ campaign promises rather than the thrill of a good old elimination match. The campaign’s idea of fun seems more about role-playing and less about rugged individualism. After all, one can hardly focus on the joys of capitalism when busy dodging imaginary bullets in a pixelated utopia.
🚨BREAKING: Kamala Harris has released a new Fortnite map.
Featuring:
•New illegal migrant skin
•Increased Vending Machine costs due to inflation
•Tampons in every chestWho’s going to tell her 12 year olds can’t vote? pic.twitter.com/2v2EP2JAe9
— Hunter Kahn (@HKahn033) October 28, 2024
The promotion of Harris’ tax breaks for small businesses appears prominently in this digital wonderland, albeit without the dynamic flair that gamers might expect. One can only hope that aspiring entrepreneurs find adequate motivation in the map’s celebratory shout-out about a “$50,000 small business tax break” because surely that beats the adrenaline rush of a good gunfight in the chaotic world of Fortnite, right?
Despite the enthusiasm the campaign likely hoped to generate, the numbers tell a different story. With a dismal turnout of only 383 players engaging with Freedom Town during a 24-hour period, it’s safe to say that Harris’ digital outreach might not be landing as intended. In stark contrast, one of “Fortnite’s” heavily trafficked servers, Ranked Reload, reached 323,783 players during the same timeframe. The disparity raises whether this political ploy is an effective outreach to the younger generation or merely a spectacle filled with empty promises and lackluster participation.
As if doubling down on the digital awkwardness wasn’t enough, Kamala Harris’ team enlisted Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Democratic representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for an endeavor of their own in sports gaming. Playing half a game of “Madden,” the pair aimed to charm young male voters. It begs the question: can a half-hearted attempt to engage a demographic be less appealing than a blockchain map without firearms? One has to wonder how the young voters are responding to these efforts. Either they’re staying glued to their consoles or simply squinting through the screens in disbelief.
In a world where everything can seem both serious and surreal, one can count on the Harris campaign to deliver the oddest digital political experiences. The political landscape may change, but the fascination with engaging young voters in the increasingly creative world of video games might need a complete reset.
