Staff Reports
In a desperate bid to win over the younger voter demographic, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign team launched an initiative that can only be described as an ambitious misfire—an interactive map, dubbed “Freedom Town, USA,” in the wildly popular video game Fortnite. Unfortunately for them, the endeavor has flopped harder than a politician promising tax cuts while simultaneously trying to raise taxes.
Reports indicate that this virtual escapade could barely scrape together a peak of 383 players at any given time within a 24-hour window. When placed in the context of Fortnite’s sprawling player base, where numbers often soar into millions, it’s evident that this so-called “freedom” has been locked away in a dungeon somewhere while gamers flock to far more exciting realms.
can't wait for the 8 yr old fortnite kids to see this game and rush to the polling places 💀
— itsRabies (@RabiesFPS) October 28, 2024
The goal was crystal clear: hook young gamers into political engagement through interactive gameplay. However, it appears that Harris’ team has completely missed the mark. Instead of snaring a legion of youthful participants eager to flex their civic muscles, the campaign has delivered a map that resembles more of a children’s carnival ride than any substantive call to action. Who could imagine that two circular race tracks and some basic jumps wouldn’t ignite a political renaissance among the youths?
In the digital realm, it seems that even seasoned game critics can’t help but chuckle at the lackluster appeal of the Harris map. One commentator humorously remarked on the simplicity of the design, likening it to something meant for toddlers who, let’s be honest, still can’t vote. Despite the best efforts of the campaign, it appears that Harris’ vision for engaging young voters may have inadvertently attracted a demographic far too young to hit the polls.
what’s the point? fortnite kids won’t help you at all pic.twitter.com/1PiSOeNIRk
— Anger (@AngerGotZaZa) October 28, 2024
As players rapidly logged off or simply chose to bypass “Freedom Town, USA,” the clear message emerged: the campaign’s understanding of both the gaming landscape and younger voters’ interests is glaringly off base. It seems that the Vice President’s team might want to reconsider their strategy—next time, maybe skip the kiddie theme and focus on actual issues that matter to young Americans. Who knows, they might just find that a little substance goes a long way in the quest for votes.
