A Fortnite quest is helping kids facing heart transplants feel less alone
By Kaitlyn Ross
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ATLANTA (WXIA) — Inside one of the most popular video games on the planet, a powerful new story is unfolding, one rooted in empathy, courage, and hope.
During Heart Month this February, Fortnite players around the world can take part in a limited-time, story-driven quest designed to help them understand the journey of children waiting for heart transplants.
The experience lives inside “Super Pet World,” a free-to-play Fortnite island developed by Atlanta-based Ghost Gaming.
The quest, called “Side Quest: Heartbeat on the Wind,” was created in partnership with Enduring Hearts, the only nonprofit organization solely dedicated to funding pediatric heart transplant research.
Players are introduced to Alice, a young patient born with a heart that does not function properly. As she waits for a lifesaving transplant, Alice relies on an advanced mechanical heart device inspired by real-world research funded by Enduring Hearts. Players help Alice and her loyal companion, Meep Neep, gather components, build the device, and navigate challenges along the way.
“When we were building this game, it was really important for us to understand what this journey is like for real patients,” said Brian Grayson, head of game development for Ghost Gaming. “We spent time reading real patient stories.”
Unlike traditional media, this experience places the player directly into the story. Every choice matters. Every action is intentional.
“What makes gaming different than any other type of media is that you are the protagonist,” Grayson said. “You are not just passively seeing content. You are leaning in. You are making choices.”
Ghost Gaming CEO Todd Harris says the goal was never to monetize the experience, but to create something meaningful that stays with players long after they log off.
“To be able to be empathetic and understand that this journey is a long one,” Harris said. “Getting the heart is just the first part of the journey.”
For Enduring Hearts CEO Lynda Lee Smith, that message is critical. Children waiting for heart transplants often face years of uncertainty, surgeries, and lifelong care.
“You have that moment where you ask yourself, am I still going to be able to be an adventurer?” Smith said. “And then you realize, of course, you can still pursue your dreams. There are just some steps along the way.”
By placing this story in Fortnite, developers hope that kids facing similar medical challenges will feel seen and understood, and less alone, while helping millions of players build empathy for a journey they may never have known about.
“Games have an incredible ability to tell human stories in deeply personal ways,” Harris said. “Our hope is that players walk away remembering not just the game, but the people behind the story.”
The quest is available globally beginning January 30 and will remain live throughout February in honor of Heart Month. Rewards earned during the experience will stay permanently unlocked for players.
How to play: Players can access “Super Pet World” for free inside Fortnite on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch by searching for the island in the game.
How to help: Players and viewers who want to support pediatric heart transplant research can donate to Enduring Hearts by texting HOPEBEYONDTHESURGERY to 44834.
Enduring Hearts is the only nonprofit dedicated exclusively to funding research that helps transplanted hearts last longer and work better. Since 2013, the organization has awarded more than $11 million in research grants across 43 institutions worldwide.
This is gaming with purpose. And for kids waiting for a second chance at life, it could make all the difference.
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