Epic Games has announced that it is postponing the start of "Fortnite" live event "The Device" and "Fortnite" Season 3 in response to ongoing protests against police violence and racism in the United States and around the world.

"Recent events are a heavy reminder of the ongoing injustices in our society, from the denial of basic human rights to the effects of overt and subtle racism against people of color. We are acutely aware of the pain our friends, families, team members, athletes, and community are experiencing.

"We believe in equality and justice, diversity and inclusion, and these fundamentals transcend politics. The team is eager to move 'Fortnite' forward, but we need to balance the launch of Season 3 with the time the team has to focus on themselves, their families, and their community."

Device's live event will now take place on June 15, and the Fortnite Season 3 launch, which was set for June 6, will now take place on June 17.

The ongoing protests, many of which have been met with violence by police and National Guard units, began on May 25 when Minneapolis police officer Derek Shovin killed George Floyd. After days of protests, Shovin was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, but those charges were upgraded to second-degree murder today. Three officers (Thomas Lane, J. Kuen, and Tou Tao) who witnessed Shovin murder Floyd but failed to intervene were also charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.