New York (AFP)
Saving lives rather than taking them is the aim of the new mode proposed by the very popular online game Fortnite and developed in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Called Liferun, this mode introduces players to the four main activities carried out by ICRC workers around the world: treating civilians, rebuilding essential infrastructure, clearing mines, and distributing aid as quickly as possible.
Three famous players, Dr. Lupo, Lachlan and One Shot Gurl, were to present and learn the new mode on Sunday at the PAX South video game show in San Antonio, Texas, the humanitarian organization said in a statement released on Sunday.
The gamer community "is growing in importance" and the ICRC has developed this new approach "in order to spark conversations about its work in the worst conflict zones in the world," the organization said.
"Video games have long been traditional entertainment and social media platforms, and we know that many players are also current, past or future soldiers, army officers, members of armed groups, CEOs of companies, lawyers and political leaders, "said Jennifer Hauseman, director of communication and information management at the ICRC, quoted in the press release.
"We need to speak to them in an intelligent and engaging way to explain to them that civilians suffer greatly in conflicts," she adds.
The ICRC, one of whose objectives is to promote respect for international humanitarian law, had already established a partnership with the Bohemia interactive studio to integrate messages on humanitarian law into the game Arma 3.
Launched in July 2017, Fortnite quickly became a true cultural phenomenon and now has 250 million players.
© 2020 AFP