Xbox Guarantees To Make Video games For A lot-Wanted Queer Visibility

Xbox has introduced its plans for Satisfaction 2023, they usually embrace a “long-term” partnership with media-monitoring group GLAAD, the choice for gamers to donate Microsoft Rewards factors to a number of LGBTQIA+ organizations, and a curated listing of video games which are made by queer-identifying builders, function inclusive gender and romance choices, or have queer lead characters.

Learn Extra: Have fun Satisfaction With Over 450 Queer Video games And Artwork For Simply $60

“What unifies our workforce at Xbox is the need to make gaming a spot the place everybody feels welcome to play. One of many methods we may also help members of LGBTQIA+ communities to really feel invited to play is thru elevated visibility & illustration in video video games,” writes Pav Bhardwaj, chief of workers at Xbox advertising and marketing within the weblog submit asserting the corporate’s Satisfaction plans. The partnership with GLAAD goals to “convey extra LGBTQIA+ tales, characters, and lived experiences to Xbox in methods that can resonate with players all over the world.” Right here’s hoping meaning Grasp Chief is homosexual within the subsequent Halo recreation.

The submit additionally particulars the significance of and have to convey extra numerous tales into gaming, as “2 in 3 LGBTQ younger individuals reported this yr that escalating transphobic and homophobic rhetoric has had adverse results on their psychological wellbeing,” based on a Trevor Venture report. 

Xbox may even make Don’t Nod’s narrative recreation Inform Me Why free for the whole month of June for the third yr operating. GLAAD labored hand-in-hand with Don’t Nod on the sport, which encompasses a younger trans man as co-protagonist.

Xbox gamers can donate their Microsoft Rewards to GLAAD, Outright Worldwide, and the Nationwide Middle for Transgender Equality. Microsoft may even give $200,000 collectively to Outright Worldwide, Stonewall, SAATHII, Casa Rara, and GLAAD, as introduced in a separate weblog submit on the official Microsoft web site. “That’s along with the $1.4 million we’ve donated along with our staff since final yr, and over $30 million we’ve donated within the final 30 years,” the submit reads.

Apparently, final yr Microsoft drew some ire from our personal Kenneth Shepard when he was at Fanbyte for donating a set quantity whereas additionally providing Satisfaction-themed Xbox gear for buy—the proceeds of which didn’t go to any queer nonprofits.

“Regardless of all this merch lined in symbols of queerness, not one of the proceeds from these gross sales are going to queer causes. Every retailer itemizing makes point out of the $170,000 donation, in addition to that Microsoft has collectively donated $8 million to queer causes previously yr. However there’s nothing in regards to the cash obtained on these gross sales getting used to assist queer individuals in any financial sense,” Shepard wrote.

Beginning in June, Xbox may even have a group of video games curated by LGBTQIA+ communities who work at Microsoft. Crucially, the “collections will exist year-round as a part of [Microsoft’s] ongoing work to create extra inclusive gaming ecosystems and elevate content material that resonates with communities.”

Satisfaction is greater than only a month, guys, and ensuring queer persons are seen year-round is significant.