Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 3 Delayed to Allow Team to 'Focus on Their Communities' Amid Worldwide Protests

Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 3 has been delayed, with the new season now launching on June 17th, with developer Epic explaining that the move is due to current outcry and protests in the US. "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," begins a statement from the Fortnite blog published earlier today. "We believe in equality and justice, diversity and inclusion, and that these fundamentals are above politics," Epic Games adds. "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."

https://t.co/8KgWau8FyC

— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) June 3, 2020

An in-game live event, 'The Device', that is set to occur at the end of the current season has also been moved to June 15th. The delay comes in the wake of the death of George Floyd, and the protests against police brutality and racism that have subsequently taken place worldwide. Chapter 2 Season 3 has been delayed twice previously, first in April in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and then last week - it was originally set to launch on June 11th. Earlier this week, Sony revealed that it was postponing its PS5 conference to "stand back and allow more important voices to be heard." IGN stands in solidarity with the black community, and condemns racism. We encourage those reading to donate to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and support the fight for racial justice. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Black lives matter.