The Finnish National Gallery (FNG) has become the first art museum in the world to launch a custom game mode within the popular video game Fortnite.
The collaboration between the Finnish museum and US company Epic Games features a new game mode called Art Heist, where players search for hidden artworks, steal them from rival teams and protect their own collection.
Launching on Thursday, the game uses a "capture the flag" format where players ride motorcycles, avoid wolves and collect virtual replicas of famous artworks. Paintings by artists like Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Vincent Van Gogh and Eero Järnefelt, displayed at the FNG's Ateneum Art Museum, can be found within the game.
The initiative aims to bring the museum's collection to a younger, global audience, as only a small fraction of the gallery's 38,000 artworks are on display at any given time.
“We believe people want to engage with art in interactive ways,” said Anna Laamanen, the museum's digital producer.
Balancing art and gameplay
Adapting the artwork for Fortnite wasn't without challenges. Certain pieces, such as Edwaert Collier's Vanitas painting featuring a skull, were excluded due to US content guidelines.
“Epic Games found the skull to be a bit too much,” Laamanen explained.
Although Fortnite is known for its shooting mechanics, the Gallery chose to incorporate the core gameplay while minimising the focus on violence.
“We must respect the game and its players, though we don't want to emphasise violence,” said Laamanen.
Expanding access to art
The museum's venture into the gaming world is part of a broader effort to reach audiences beyond traditional museum-goers, particularly young people.
“We want to connect with art lovers who don't yet know they are art lovers,” Laamanen added.
The game allows users to explore the artworks in a non-traditional environment, with players able to learn more about the pieces in a virtual lobby. However, the primary focus is on creating a fun and immersive experience rather than delivering a purely educational product.
As the pandemic has highlighted the need for digital engagement, the FNG hopes this project will serve as a starting point for future interactive art experiences.
Besides the Ateneum Art Museum, the FNG also includes the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art and the Sinebrychoff Art Museum, which focuses on older European art.
5 September: Added FNG explanation, other details.
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