(BPT) - Key takeaways
- Video games can be a powerful tool to teach and preserve history.
- World of Warships, a free-to-play multiplayer naval combat game, offers players an opportunity to immerse themselves in American naval history.
- One of the most recent game updates celebrated America's 250th anniversary.
- Beyond gameplay, the game's developer and publisher supports other educational ventures to connect players with military history.
Many modern video games aim to immerse players in the game's world. And when coupled with historical events, these games can teach history and preserve it for current and future generations. One game that stands at the forefront of this trend is World of Warships, a leading naval multiplayer online game that brings American military history to life.
World of Warships prides itself on being the world's largest virtual naval museum, boasting 800 ship models and counting. Each ship has been faithfully recreated down to the rivets. As players progress through the game, they'll have the opportunity to take part in several events inspired by history, including famous World War II battles and other key conflicts across the 20th century.
Celebrating the dawn of the nation
Last month, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, Wargaming — the game's developer and publisher — released a special update that allows players to explore America's origins. In the new "Dawn of a Nation" narrative campaign, players could experience the personal stories of four characters from different nations and learn how the Thirteen Colonies won their independence. As players progressed through the campaign, they'd collect narrative-specific rewards, including the formidable Tier VIII U.S. cruiser Congress.
Wargaming continued the Fourth of July celebration in an update to World of Warships: Legends, an adapted version of the original video game featuring faster-paced, arcade-style gameplay. Players could immerse themselves in dedicated historical activities, including the "Three Eras of Freedom" Collection and the "Big Chief" Calendar. By completing the daily calendar, players unlocked the legendary Commander Ernest E. Evans, alongside three Commander guises of notable figures from defining eras of U.S. Navy history.
Beyond gameplay: Preserving America's naval heritage
Wargaming doesn't limit its dedication to preserving American history to direct gameplay alone. The game developer has also invested heavily in connecting players with naval museums around the world through its annual "Longest Night of Museums" event.
This year's event dove into 160 years of torpedo history across seven world-class museums during a special live broadcast on the official World of Warships Twitch channel. Alongside the livestream announcement, a special video commemorated the 85th anniversary of the sinking of the Bismarck, an iconic German battleship.
Another great example of Wargaming's efforts to preserve and spread knowledge of American naval history is its partnership with the veteran nonprofit FORCE BLUE. Marking the 80th anniversaries of the D-Day landings, and the Battle of Okinawa — two pivotal moments in the European and Pacific Theaters of World War II — Wargaming and FORCE BLUE collaborated on "Frog Fathers: Lessons from the Normandy Surf" and "Frog Fathers 2: Last Battle of the Pacific."
These documentaries follow two teams of veterans comprised of Navy SEALs, Marines (including actor and FORCE BLUE co-founder Rudy Reyes), and a Green Beret as they follow in the footsteps of their predecessors, revisiting battle sites and retracing the unique challenges faced by the Naval Combat Demolition Unit and Underwater Demolition Teams of old.
Finally, for ongoing historical education, the company's dedicated YouTube series, Naval Legends, showcases naval museums around the globe and fosters deep appreciation for maritime heritage.
Educational entertainment is a powerful tool. Through its games and educational initiatives, Wargaming proves that playing video games and learning history are not mutually exclusive. To learn more about World of Warships and World of Warships: Legends, visit WorldOfWarships.com.
