Just weeks after Paramount Network cancelled its hit cop show, ‘Cops,’ in the wake of protests sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, video game “Fortnite” has followed with a similar move.
Last week, the hit video game launched its third season, but amid ongoing tension between the community and police, a few players noticed a difference in the game – no police cars.
According to a person familiar with the game’s development, Epic Games removed police cars after last week’s update, the Wall Street Journal reports. But, apparently, the move is not political, as the source revealed Epic Games is just reading the room of its audience.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a political statement,” the source told the Journal. “I think it’s just us being sensitive about the issues. Many people in our audience are dealing with.”
The move comes as calls to “defund the police” have increased, with many local governments adhering to the demand to shift money to community-based programs and services. It also comes after “Live PD” was taken off air as well, as protests against police brutality continue.
