In celebrating Pleasure this 12 months, we invite LGBTQIA+ communities and allies to unite of their help for justice and equality, and to amplify voices that fight discrimination across the globe. Staff Xbox shares our help for the LGBTQIA+ communities inside gaming, whereas elevating consciousness of present points impacting these communities.
With greater than half of online game gamers (52% ) agreeing that “my gaming identification is a greater reflection of myself than my real-world identification,” video video games are an necessary outlet that offers gamers – particularly those that are LGBTQIA+ – the prospect to be who they need to be. At Xbox, we proceed to work on creating protected areas in gaming the place all LGBTQIA+ persons are welcome and belong, the place everyone seems to be invited to play as their genuine self and revel in a neighborhood that welcomes self-expression.
That is additionally our probability to be really intersectional by celebrating the huge array of individuals and identities that make up the colourful Xbox LGBTQIA+ international gaming communities. It’s extra necessary than ever to acknowledge that programs of inequity primarily based on gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identification, incapacity, class, and different types of discrimination intersect and finally have an effect on us all. The worldwide points that LGBTQIA+ communities face are interconnected and we should search to handle them collectively. We’re impressed by those that are utilizing their voice and actively collaborating throughout teams and inequities to drive change for and past LGBTQIA+ communities.
Xbox will proceed to champion a big selection of content material and creators, in order that video games can higher symbolize gamers from all communities and identities. We additionally help organizations which can be driving change for points that influence LGBTQIA+ communities, particularly these combating for transgender equality. This 12 months Xbox, together with Microsoft, is thrilled to proceed these efforts with a $170K donation to a number of LGBQTIA+ organizations, in addition to function an elevated variety of Pleasure-themed merchandise and designs which might hopefully encourage conversations and rally neighborhood actions.
We are going to assist drive these conversations and amplify various LGBTQIA+ voices at Xbox as we proceed to embrace and uplift the facility of voice and identification. Listed here are a number of ways in which Staff Xbox can be supporting LGBTQIA+ communities and celebrating Pleasure this 12 months:
Give
Microsoft is donating a complete of $170,000 to LGBTQIA+ nonprofits
Microsoft is continuous our long-standing help of LGBTQIA+ organizations. Along with our workers, Microsoft has donated over $8M to organizations that help LGBTQIA+ communities within the final 12 months alone. To acknowledge the launch of our 2022 Pleasure marketing campaign and merchandise, we’re contributing a further $170,000 to OutRight Motion Worldwide, African Rainbow Household, Nationwide Middle for Transgender Equality, Mermaids, Lavender Rights Challenge and Fulcrum UA to assist in the battle for LGBTQIA+ fairness and equality. Be taught extra.
Gaming and Impression with Microsoft Rewards
Microsoft Rewards members in the US and the UK can earn and donate factors to organizations supporting LGBTQIA+ communities with Xbox. The organizations under can be featured on console all through June:
- Mermaids – Mermaids is likely one of the main LGBTQ+ charities within the UK. Since 1995, the charity has been supporting trans, non-binary and gender-diverse younger individuals and their households. (US and UK)
- OutRight Motion Worldwide: OutRight Motion Worldwide fights for the human rights of LGBTIQ individuals all over the place. OutRight works on the worldwide, regional, and nationwide ranges to analysis, doc, defend, and advance human rights for LGBTIQ individuals around the globe. (US)
- Nationwide Middle for Transgender Equality – The Nationwide Middle for Transgender Equality (NCTE) advocates to alter insurance policies and society to extend understanding and acceptance of transgender and non-binary individuals. Within the nation’s capital and all through the nation, NCTE works to switch disrespect, discrimination, and violence with empathy, alternative, and justice. (US)
Xbox avid gamers can earn Microsoft Rewards factors in varied methods, reminiscent of enjoying or buying video games after downloading the Microsoft Rewards app on Xbox. Earn factors and redeem them for actual rewards. Be part of us at this time and donate by means of Xbox.
Get the Gear
Xbox Design Lab Options New Controller Impressed by Pleasure Out there June 9
Final 12 months, Xbox shared a imaginative and prescient for a Pleasure controller. We produced a restricted batch of Pleasure controllers and shared it with LGBTQIA+ gamers and creators around the globe. Whereas the response to the controller was very constructive, many requested us to make this design universally out there. We heard you, and we’re increasing availability by making this 12 months’s Pleasure controller customizable by means of Xbox Design Lab, particularly underscoring the distinctiveness of the LGBTQIA+ expertise.
This 12 months’s Pleasure high case design brings collectively 34 neighborhood flags in a high-quality, interwoven method to have a good time the nuance, complexity, intersectionality, and power of the numerous LGBTQIA+ communities. You possibly can customise all different components of the controller with a broad colour palette, metallic finishes, rubberized grips, and even add engraving to make your Pleasure controller distinctive to you.
However this isn’t only a controller. It’s an emblem of the LGBTQIA+ communities that impressed it, and a name to proceed efforts towards inclusion and illustration throughout all gaming areas. So, we’re bringing collectively dozens of voices of LGBTQIA+ avid gamers, builders, content material creators and Microsoft workers inside an immersive storytelling expertise. We hope that by interacting with this expertise, individuals will see why LGBTQIA+ illustration and visibility issues, the way it has already impacted the lives of so many, and the way a lot we will all do to make gaming a matter of Pleasure.
Create your distinctive Pleasure controller beginning June 9, out there all over the place Xbox Design Lab is out there. Share your designs with us utilizing #Pleasure and #XboxPride. Uncover and study extra right here.
Get Your Xbox Pleasure Gear!
The Xbox Gear Store celebrates Pleasure Month with a brand new 2022 Pleasure assortment from Xbox and partnering Xbox Sport Studios.
Present your help with limited-edition t-shirts, baggage, and extra — all created by and with LGBTQIA+ communities. This 12 months’s assortment is filled with much more Xbox Sport Studios designs and eco-friendly choices. Store Pleasure gear now.
Play
XGS Publishing: Inform Me Why Out there for Free in June + Charity Livestream
Inform Me Why, the award-winning narrative journey from Dontnod Leisure and Xbox Publishing, can be out there free of charge on Xbox consoles, the Microsoft Retailer, and Steam for the whole month of June 2022. To acknowledge that this 12 months has seen a sharp rise in anti-trans sentiment in the US, Xbox Publishing is accompanying the free interval with donations of $25,000 every to Transgender Regulation Middle and Trans Lifeline, two non-profit organizations providing assets and help to trans, non-binary, and genderqueer individuals.
Xbox Publishing can also be internet hosting a livestream of Inform Me Why to fundraise for Trans Lifeline on Thursday, June 23. We hope to see you there! Watch right here.
343 Industries Celebrates Pleasure with New “Unity” Emblem and Nameplate!
343 Industries celebrates Pleasure with a brand-new emblem and nameplate! Throughout the month of June, any gamers logging into Halo Infinite will obtain the “Unity” nameplate and emblem, created for any Spartan who desires to point out their true colours!
The Forza Franchise Celebrates Pleasure
Coming quickly in June, an unique Forza rainbow livery adorning the 2009 Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster can be gifted in-game to gamers in Forza Horizon 5 and Forza Horizon 4, in addition to Forza Motorsport 7. Control the Turn 10 Studios Twitter to see when it’s been delivered to your in-game Message Middle.
Microsoft Informal Video games Is Displaying Our Pleasure
Rejoice Pleasure Month with a brand new, restricted version Microsoft Informal Video games t-shirt and an opportunity to win a $25 Xbox Gear Store Present Card! Be part of the enjoyable by sharing your love of video games within the Microsoft Solitaire Group. View the brand new shirt right here and click on to enter the Sweepstakes June 13 – 20 (Editor’s Notice: ‘Entry’ hyperlinks can be stay beginning June 13). Should be 18+ and reside in an Xbox Gear Store supported transport area. Guidelines might be discovered right here beginning on June 13.
Uncover
Uncover Video games Curated by LGBTQIA+ Communities at Microsoft
From GLAAD and the Gayming Awards to lesser-known hits, Microsoft Retailer on Xbox or Home windows guests and Xbox Sport Cross members can simply entry a few of the most inspiring video games making LGBTQIA+ historical past than ever earlier than and play with delight at any time! Content material experiences have elevated to over 27 extra areas at this time as we proceed our missions to increase Pleasure past borders and construct empathy and belonging by means of gaming content material.
Try a number of highlights from the Xbox video games and Home windows video games reflecting the experiences of and resonating with LGBTQIA+ communities together with creators, leads, relationship choices, and character creation choices.
Unsighted (Out there with Xbox Sport Cross) – Created by Tiani Pixel and Fernanda Dias, who’re each trans and Brazilian, this LGBTQIA+ impressed, fashionable hack and slasher options lesbian robots in a postapocalyptic world filled with decisions.
No Longer Residence – Based mostly on Cel Davison and Hana Lee’s life, this recreation is about two non-binary individuals, Ao and Bo, who should go away London as a result of Ao is obliged to return to Japan. This recreation is about letting go of the life you’ve constructed as a consequence of circumstances past your management.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderland – Tiny Tina is your disorderly information by means of a rare tabletop realm the place guidelines hardly ever apply in her personal fantasy spin on the Borderlands world. The sport explores LGBTQIA+ tales, consists of non-binary character creation choices, and contributing author, Sam Maggs, identifies as bisexual.
Lifeless by Daylight (Rated M and Out there with Xbox Sport Cross) – The most recent chapter of the sport, Tome 11: Devotion, explores David King’s backstory as the primary brazenly homosexual character on this survival horror recreation.
View the collections in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Eire, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the UK, and the US. Guests to each the Xbox and Microsoft Retailer on Home windows can discover picks from LGBTQIA+ communities by looking for “LGBTQIA+” and associated phrases. Content material is topic to availability by nation.
Xbox Ambassadors Characteristic Tales about LGBTQIA+ Illustration in Gaming
All through Pleasure Month, we can be spotlighting tales about illustration in gaming from LGBTQIA+ Xbox Ambassadors inside the communities. These are their tales.
Bethesda Roundtable with Arkane Austin and Homosexual Gaming Professionals (GGP) Students
The crew at Arkane Austin not too long ago sat down with college students inside LGBTQIA+ communities for a dialog on mentorship inside the gaming business. The scholars are aspiring recreation builders, and students chosen by Homosexual Gaming Professionals in partnership with the ESA. You possibly can learn extra from their Q&A on Bethesda.internet.
New Pleasure Gamerpics, Profile Theme, and Avatar Objects
In partnership with LGBTQIA+ communities at Xbox, we’re introducing a brand new gamerpic, profile themes, and avatar objects! The gamerpic and profile theme can be out there on console and the Xbox PC app. Get your avatar objects right here. Content material is topic to availability by nation.
Tune In
Xbox Performs Celebrates LGBTQIA+ Communities
In celebration of Pleasure Month, Xbox Performs can be dedicating our livestreaming content material in June to LGBTQIA+ communities, that includes streamers/content material creators, builders and nonprofits! Comply with us on our Xbox Twitch Channel and don’t miss any of the motion!
Xbox Podcast Talks Pleasure, Self-Expression, and Fairness for LGBTQIA+ Gamers
Xbox’s Main Nelson can be joined by Kate Rayner, Vice President, Technical Director at The Coalition and Member of Staff Xbox LGBTQIA+ on the Official Xbox Podcast for a particular Pleasure month episode discussing the importance of intersectionality, the facility of gaming and identification, and celebrating the variety of LGBTQIA+ communities. Additionally, Elliott Hsu, Principal Designer of Units at Microsoft, will be a part of to speak in regards to the design story behind this 12 months’s Pleasure controller, which included partnering with LGBQTIA+ communities at each stage. The episode will cowl how Xbox is supporting LGBTQIA+ communities to play as their genuine selves and expertise the enjoyment of play with a neighborhood who values self-expression. Hearken to the podcast.
Xbox UKI + DIGIPRIDE Occasions
The UK’s main LGBTQIA+ online game occasion, DIGIPRIDE, is again this summer time celebrating all issues Pleasure from June by means of August on gaymingmag.com. As a presenting accomplice, Xbox UKI can be serving up main moments over the following 3-months of enjoyable together with giveaways, Let’s Play streams, particular visitors on the Gayming Podcast and much more nonetheless to be revealed! Be taught extra.
For extra particulars about how Xbox is celebrating Pleasure, please go to our Unlocked Pleasure gaming expertise, centering on voices of LGBTQIA+ gamers and allies by means of the lens of our new Xbox Design Lab Pleasure controller. You may also be a part of us by exploring the Microsoft marketing campaign at unlocked.microsoft.com.
