Fortnite players noticed a glaring change in the video game following an update made on June 17. Epic Games, the video game company responsible for developing Fortnite, has removed all police cars from the popular game.
Players instantly associated the move with an act of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement amid police brutality protests that erupted all across the country following the murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.
In a new report, a publisher for the game confirmed police cars had been purposely removed from the multiplayer game after the recent update in light of the ongoing police brutality protests. The company maintains, however, that the decision is not a “political statement,” but rather the company wanting to be “sensitive about the issues” that players of the game may currently be facing.
The company had already delayed the launch of the third season of Chapter 2 of the game due to the country’s current socio-political upheaval, issuing a statement reading: “The team is eager to move Fortnite forward, but we need to balance the Season 3 launch with time for the team to focus on themselves, their families, and their communities. Recent events are a heavy reminder of ongoing injustices in society, from the denial of basic human rights to the impact of racism both overt and subtle against people of color. We’re acutely aware of the pain our friends, families, team members, players, and communities are experiencing.”
The battle royale video game recently held a Travis Scott concert, breaking the record for most live viewers at a time with his virtual ASTRONOMICAL performance back in April.