Xbox believes within the energy of gaming to convey individuals collectively, to domesticate pleasure, creativity, and teamwork. We’re dedicated to constructing a neighborhood the place everyone seems to be welcome to play, and a technique to do that is thru supporting and amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities in gaming.
Muse reported that Black People usually tend to agree with the constructive outcomes of gaming, for instance, teamwork and communication, in comparison with different communities. In honor of Black Historical past Month, we’re spotlighting the contributions of Black and African American builders and creators and celebrating gaming as a supply of pleasure, connection, and self-care for a lot of in the neighborhood.
I significantly relate to this from rising up within the South Bronx. Gaming was a manner for me to launch stress after faculty. I’ve fond recollections of summer season afternoons spent at a buddy’s dwelling enjoying Halo and laterenjoying Gears of Conflict alone first Xbox. I used to be fascinated by the narratives, drawn to the worlds, and impressed by the heroes and the hope they represented. Gaming gave me bonding time with household and buddies, was a supply of creativity for college initiatives, and fueled the assumption that I might at some point be part of the business that motivated me to be persistent in pursuit of my dream.
Regardless of a scarcity of neighborhood sources, I tackled each day with optimism, crediting a lot of this positivity to the gaming neighborhood and the gifted people across the globe who repeatedly convey this artform to life. Upon leaving a profession in media communication to work in retail, my 7-year journey with Microsoft started on the Microsoft retail retailer in New York Metropolis and final yr, I achieved my dream of becoming a member of Staff Xbox. As a life-long gamer, it’s vital to me to assist encourage and uplift others to affix the business or to easily share their love of gaming.
The boundaries that I encountered rising up are lifting, and whereas there may be nonetheless a lot work to do, I’m proud that within the final yr, Xbox has doubled the variety of video games featured from Black creators. Illustration is a crucial step ahead in our objectives to supply charming gaming experiences through which everyone seems to be welcome to play and may actually see themselves because the hero.
Be part of us as Xbox celebrates and amplifies Black voices throughout this Black Historical past Month and past.
Impression and Join
Microsoft Rewards on Xbox: Donate Factors to Organizations Supporting Black Communities
Microsoft Rewards members in the US can earn and donate factors to organizations supporting Black communities with Xbox. The beneath organizations shall be featured on console all through February:
- Cxmmunity – A nonprofit group, dedicated to rising the illustration of minorities in esports by way of STEAM training and profession improvement alternatives.
- Black Girls Rock – A worldwide ladies’s motion and philanthropic group devoted to celebrating and empowering ladies and women of shade, by producing inspiring media content material and offering enrichment applications for women that foster constructive identification improvement, crucial considering, management, literacy, tech, and innovation.
- Gameheads – A tech coaching program that makes use of online game design, improvement and DevOps to create numerous expertise and daring new voices, practice youth of shade for the tech eco-system and put together them for school, profession and civic life.
Xbox avid gamers can earn Microsoft Rewards factors in numerous methods, resembling enjoying or buying video games after downloading the Microsoft Rewards app on Xbox. Earn factors and redeem them for actual rewards. Join us today and donate through Xbox.
Xbox Sport Studios “Sport Camp” Coming to New Orleans, HBCU
Xbox Sport Studios (XGS) Sport Camp is coming again to New Orleans March 9 by way of April 27. The objective of Sport Camp is to offer individuals from underrepresented communities with entry to material specialists, instruments, and business connections to help them by way of the sport creation course of. Whereas Sport Camp has expanded internationally, XGS is dedicated to its presence within the New Orleans neighborhood as a consequence of its distinct tradition, numerous inhabitants, and abundance of expertise from traditionally Black faculties and universities (HBCU). Learn more here.
Xbox Sport Studios and HBCU Join Associate Collectively to Improve Inclusive Hiring
In partnership with HBCU Join, Xbox Sport Studios presents “From the Yard to Gaming,” a particular panel that includes Xbox staff who’re HBCU Join alumni. “The Yard” is a colloquial time period utilized by HBCU college students in reference to their particular campuses. Our Xbox group will share their experiences and the way their time at an HBCU ready them for his or her skilled journeys within the video games business. Moderated by Senior Expertise Pipeline Program Supervisor at Mojang Studios and HBCU advocate Brittney Pettway, we’ll ask Xbox builders Hector Llanos, Corey Rogers, and Timothy Olojedeto to focus on the work they do inside gaming and contribute to an inclusive place the place individuals from numerous walks of life can excel. Keep tuned for particulars on attend our Xbox HBCU Join digital occasion scheduled for Thursday, March 3.
Microsoft additionally stays dedicated to the Racial Equity Initiative which focuses on sustained efforts like rising illustration, strengthening a tradition of inclusion, and devoted inclusive hiring practices. We stay up for internet hosting upcoming occasions the place anybody in our Xbox neighborhood can meet members of the Xbox group and study extra about alternatives within the gaming business.
Xbox Sport Studios Presents “The New Face of Gaming” at GDC
As a part of our Xbox providing on the Sport Builders Convention in San Francisco this March, Xbox Sport Studios presents “The New Face of Gaming,” a particular pre-recorded session on March 24 that includes a various group of recreation builders at Xbox. Our Xbox panelists, Senior Program Supervisor at Xbox Calicia Johnson, Software program Engineer Keirten Nivol, and Xbox Advertising and marketing Supervisor Austin Joseph, will share their experiences in gaming and discover how numerous voices are contributing to the evolution of the gaming business. We’ll additionally contact on how the evolution of gaming is making the business a extra inclusive place for all the place avid gamers can see themselves within the video games they play. This GDC session is moderated by Senior Expertise Pipeline Program Supervisor at Mojang Studios Brittney Pettway. Be careful for extra info coming quickly relating to this and our different GDC classes targeted on inclusivity at Xbox.
Uncover
Xbox Ambassadors Spotlights Tales about Illustration in Gaming
All through Black Historical past Month, we shall be spotlighting tales about illustration in gaming by Xbox Ambassadors from Black communities. These are their stories.
Xbox Performs will Characteristic Black Streamers, Sport Creators, and Nonprofits
All through February, the Xbox Twitch channel will function programming celebrating Black Historical past Month. Every week could have a distinct theme, that includes Black Streamer Takeovers, Black Sport Creators, and can showcase nonprofit organizations supporting Black communities.
World’s Edge: Age of Empires Highlights Inspiring Black Figures from American Historical past
Age of Empires will spotlight Black figures from American historical past with articles on their web site, inviting their viewers to study extra about individuals who’ve formed the nation. Want to begin learning? Study extra concerning the tales of Harriet Tubman, Crispus Attucks, Phillis Wheatley, and Peter Salem. Discover more.
Minecraft’s Classes in Good Hassle
Minecraft: Training Version gives Lessons In Good Trouble, a set of eight interactive Minecraft worlds and classes on social actions all through historical past together with the Civil Rights Movement and Black Lives Matter in addition to classes about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the origins of Juneteenth. Good Hassle is obtainable as a free demo for Minecraft: Training Version and for gamers by way of the Training Assortment within the Minecraft Market. Discover more here.
Uncover Video games, Motion pictures, and TV Curated by Black Communities at Microsoft
Since final February, we now have doubled the video games featured on Xbox from Black creators and proceed to extend visibility of numerous and inclusive content material in extra areas.
Just a few highlights from the complete Xbox games and Windows games collections spanning Black creators, main characters, and character creation options embody:
Marvel’s Avengers – From Lead Director Morgan Grey, Marvel’s Avengers: Conflict for Wakanda replace added Black Panther to the roster and a brand new marketing campaign going down in Wakanda.
Earlier than I Overlook – This BAFTA-nominated narrative exploration about dementia is from two ladies, together with Narrative Designer Chella Ramanan, a Black British girl and lively campaigner for range in video games as co-founder of POC in Play.
Aerial_Knight’s By no means Yield – Take the position of Wally on this 3D side-scroller from Aerial_Knight together with a soundtrack by “Danime-Sama,” a Detroit artist with vocals from artists from all around the world.
Boyfriend Dungeon – Create your personal character outdoors of the gender binary after which romance Isaac the Estoc for those who select on this distinctive dungeon crawler courting sim with LGBTQIA+ themes the place you date your weapons.
One standout title from the full movies and TV collection that includes creators, leads, educational views, and family entertainment is:
“Candyman” – Nia DaCosta has been making waves because the director of this thriller primarily based on an city legend main her to be the primary Black girl to have a movie debut at primary upon opening weekend. We’re additionally excited to see what she does sooner or later as the primary Black girl and youngest particular person to direct a Marvel Studios film.
View the collections in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, the Netherlands, the UK, the US, and South Africa. Guests can discover Microsoft’s Black neighborhood picks at any time by trying to find “Black Historical past” and associated phrases on Microsoft Retailer on Home windows and Xbox Retailer. Content material is topic to availability by nation.
Play
Halo Infinite Honors Black Historical past Month with Unique New Emblem and Nameplate
In celebration of Black Historical past Month, we’ll provide our very first Halo Infinite Black Historical past Month emblem and nameplate. All gamers will be capable to obtain this unique in-game content material by logging into Halo Infinite anytime through the month of February.
Forza Celebrates Black Historical past Month with New In-game Livery Design Contest
The Forza group joins Xbox in celebrating Black Historical past Month to honor Black tradition and Black communities.
Be part of us through the use of #ForzaBHM to share your livery designs celebrating the previous, current, and way forward for Black communities. We’ll function our favorites in Forza Horizon 5, Forza Horizon 4, and Forza Motorsport 7, and featured designers will obtain in-game credit score rewards. Entries shut on February 13 at 11:59 p.m. PST.
Xbox Honors Black Historical past Month with a New Gamerpic, Profile Theme, and Avatar Gadgets!
In partnership with Black communities at Xbox, we’re introducing a brand new gamerpic, profile themes, and avatar gadgets! The gamerpic and profile theme shall be accessible on console and the Xbox PC app. Get your avatar items here.
Study extra about all that Xbox is doing to interact our communities on the Xbox Community Hub.
