Fortnite and the Holocaust: A new way to teach Gen Z about history?

While traditional methods like museums, books, and films often struggle to maintain the memory of the Holocaust among younger generations, Jewish-French-American game designer Luc Bernard has come up with an innovative solution: commemorating the Holocaust through one of the most rapidly growing mediums in today’s world—video games.

In an interview with Ynet, just before Holocaust Remembrance Day, Bernard discusses why video games are essential in educating youth about the Holocaust and fighting antisemitism, as well as the challenges he faces in this groundbreaking effort.

Bernard, the creator of the "Holocaust Museum" in the popular game Fortnite, shares that the idea came from a shocking statistic: "In the U.S., a large percentage of young people have never heard of the Holocaust, let alone visited a museum. I wanted to change that. Video games are central to modern culture, and it's important to use them in a responsible and positive way."

A 2020 survey by the Claims Conference revealed disturbing results about Millennials' and Gen Z's awareness of the Holocaust in the U.S.: 63% didn’t know that 6 million Jews were murdered, 48% couldn’t name a single concentration camp or ghetto, and 11% wrongly believed that Jews themselves were responsible for the Holocaust.

In response, Bernard’s Fortnite "Holocaust Museum" offers an immersive, virtual experience that tells the story of the extermination of 6 million European Jews. For many players, it is as close as they’ll get to a real-life museum visit.

"The museum became one of the most visited spaces in Fortnite, with millions exposed to the Holocaust narrative, including those who might never step foot in a traditional museum," Bernard said. "This proved that video games can be a powerful tool in educating and raising historical awareness among young people."

He added, "I believe the Fortnite museum resonates because players aren’t just passive observers. They’re actively engaged, which makes the message more memorable and impactful. It helps them build a deeper, more meaningful connection to these historical events."

Ynet contributed to this article.