Collectively We Thrive: Celebrating the Pleasure of the LGBTQIA+ Group in Gaming

Video games is usually a highly effective medium to precise and discover one’s identification in a artistic and secure surroundings. Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind permits gamers to romance and marry characters no matter their gender. Overwatch options overtly LGBTQIA+ characters, reminiscent of Tracer, who’s heroic, robust, and prominently featured within the sport. Inform Me Why tells the story of Tyler, a transgender man, with sensitivity and depth. Video games is usually a highly effective approach to discover identities throughout the security of artistic play whereas enabling all gamers to expertise new views which may be totally different from their very own.

This Satisfaction month, we invite you to hitch us on this journey of studying, rising, and thriving. Gaming is for everybody, and collectively, we are able to work in direction of making a gaming neighborhood that’s welcoming to everybody and is inclusive of individuals with a variety of views, experiences, and backgrounds. That significant work is achieved via folks impacting others via training, appreciating the lived experiences of others and constructing empathy with members of the LGBTQIA+ neighborhood.

We consider it’s essential to assist organizations that uplift, empower, and tackle the wants of the LGBTQIA+ neighborhood. Within the final 30 years, along with our workers, Microsoft has donated over $16M to organizations that assist the LGBTQIA+ neighborhood, and within the final yr alone, we donated over $1.3M. This yr Xbox, together with Microsoft, is thrilled to proceed these efforts with a $200K contribution to a number of organizations supporting the LGBQTIA+ neighborhood to assist encourage conversations, rally neighborhood actions, and empower folks to share their Satisfaction.   

Moreover, Xbox Recreation Studios Publishing is proud to proceed partnering with GLAAD to supply extra inclusive video games from conception to design to growth. Xbox is partnering with The Trevor Mission to assist join LGBTQIA+ gamers with invaluable assets that assist assist well-being and security as they play throughout the Xbox neighborhood. Each participant has a singular story, and we stay up for future initiatives the place folks throughout the rainbow spectrum could expertise the identical empowerment. Learn on to study extra about how we’re celebrating the LGBTQIA+ neighborhood this month and past:

Spotlighting Xbox’s partnership with The Trevor Mission

Gaming has lengthy been a supply of enjoyable, neighborhood, and self-expression for the LGBTQIA+ neighborhood. Based on GLAAD, LGBTQIA+ players are 24% extra probably to make use of gaming as a assist to assist get them via powerful occasions – with 66% of LGBTQIA+ gamers sharing that gaming permits them to precise themselves in a method they don’t really feel snug doing in the true world.

This affect just isn’t misplaced on us. At Xbox, we’re dedicated to creating gaming experiences which might be welcoming for all gamers, and that features offering a secure and inclusive area the place everybody could be their genuine selves.

That’s why we’re proud to highlight Xbox’s standing partnership with The Trevor Mission, a U.S. nonprofit that gives lifesaving and life-affirming companies to LGBTQIA+ younger folks. Since 2019, Xbox and its security groups have been partnering with The Trevor Mission to attach gamers with assets to assist their well-being and guarantee they really feel secure and welcome after they play on Xbox.

For us, it’s essential gamers really feel secure. Our ongoing partnership with The Trevor Mission is a technique for us to do this. Extra data on how Xbox helps participant’s well-being could be discovered right here.

Within the spirit of Satisfaction, we wish to share the next security suggestions to assist gamers get essentially the most out of their gaming expertise:

• Discover your consumer settings. Xbox gives settings that permit gamers selection in how they play. Gamers can choose whether or not to make their pals listing seen, select to obtain messages from individuals who aren’t pals, or block content material they don’t want to view.
• Take consolation in figuring out Xbox has your again. To assist the broader player-base and LGBTQIA+ neighborhood, we take participant security significantly. This contains:
  • In-game reporting instruments to assist gamers flag problems with inappropriate habits or content material. Xbox invests in 24/7 protection globally to assist reply to and examine experiences.
  • Moderation instruments that work throughout textual content, pictures video and voice, to dam dangerous content material earlier than it reaches gamers.
  • Entry to computerized textual content filters, which empowers gamers to customise their gaming expertise and resolve what content material just isn’t okay to obtain – these filters mechanically block content material earlier than it reaches the participant.
  • Persevering with to create proactive measures to dam hate speech and spend money on applied sciences to assist average probably poisonous communications, whereas permitting particular person expression.

Gaming and Impression with Rewards with Xbox

Rewards members in the US can earn and donate factors to organizations supporting LGBTQIA+ communities with Xbox. The organizations under will likely be obtainable on the Rewards hub:

• GLAAD: Based in 1985, GLAAD – the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy group – works with tv, movie, video video games, Spanish-language media, journalists, and social media to inform tales and seek the advice of on LGBTQ media illustration. GLAAD tackles powerful points and provokes dialogue that results in cultural change via elevated media accountability, public campaigns, company engagement initiatives, and advocacy packages that assist to make sure 100% inclusion and acceptance of the LGBTQ neighborhood. (US)
• Outright Worldwide: Outright Worldwide is devoted to working with companions across the globe to strengthen the capability of the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) human rights motion, doc and amplify human rights violations towards LGBTIQ folks, and advocate for inclusion and equality. (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 folks. Within the nation’s capital and all through the nation, NCTE works to interchange disrespect, discrimination, and violence with empathy, alternative, and justice. (US)

Xbox gamers can earn Rewards factors in varied methods, reminiscent of taking part in video games, finishing Recreation Go Quests, and buying video games and different eligible gadgets on the Microsoft Retailer (exclusions apply). Begin incomes immediately and redeem your factors for excellent rewards. Donate your factors on the Rewards hub or on the Rewards redeem web page.

Inform Me Why Out there for Free in June on Xbox Consoles, Microsoft Retailer, and Steam!

Inform Me Why, the award-winning narrative journey from Don’t Nod Leisure and Xbox Recreation Studios Publishing, will likely be obtainable free of charge on Xbox consoles, Home windows PC, and Steam for the complete month of June 2024. As in previous years, the Inform Me Why group encourages gamers to provide what they’d have spent on Inform Me Why to an impartial trans creator or a trans-inclusive charity of their neighborhood.

Discover Video games Curated by LGBTQIA+ Communities at Microsoft

Xbox invitations you to play with pleasure.

Throughout June and past, try a wide range of sport collections that showcase LGBTQIA+ creators, lead characters, and video games with inclusive gender and relationship choices. Out there on the Microsoft Shops on Xbox and Home windows, try the transgender and non-binary neighborhood video games assortment and the LGBTQIA+ neighborhood video games assortment. These collections will exist year-round as a part of our ongoing work to create extra inclusive gaming ecosystems and elevate content material that resonates with communities. For Xbox Recreation Go members, discover what video games can be found to play within the Xbox Recreation Go assortment and the PC Recreation Go assortment.

Featured titles throughout the collections embody:

Want for Velocity Unbound (Out there with Xbox Recreation Go Final on Console, PC, and Cloud) – Want for Velocity Unbound’s character creator permits for a number of gender expressions through clothes, hair, and voice choices that aren’t restricted to the gender binary. The sport additionally options racing rival, Justicia, a trans lady voiced by trans actress, Sena Bryer, along with together with LGBTQIA+ iconography within the streets and as decals to your automobiles.

Starfield (Out there with Xbox Recreation Go on Console, PC, and Cloud) – On this role-playing sport set amongst the celebs, create any character you need and discover with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey. Starfield boasts a formidable character creation software with a number of physique sorts, pores and skin tones, hairstyles, non-gendered options, and so they/them pronoun choices. Exploration choices embody pursuing romantic relationships no matter gender.

Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical (Out there on Console) – Play as star and stagehand as you establish the story via dialog and music on this online game for musical lovers. Written by the enduring and overtly homosexual narrative designer, David Gaider, you’ll craft not solely a singular narrative, however a soundtrack to your personal musical expertise based mostly in your decisions. Forge your personal story and resolve who to romance.

The Quarry (Out there with Xbox Recreation Go on Console and Cloud) – Play solo or in a gaggle of pals as any of 9 camp counselors on this thrilling cinematic expertise that leads down a tangled internet of prospects based mostly in your decisions. Get pleasure from an evening of enjoyable earlier than a celebration shortly turns into an unpredictable evening of horror and your relationships are examined by unimaginable life-or-death selections.

This Mattress We Made (Out there on Console) –   Chloe Lussier, CEO and co-founder of Lowbirth Video games, needs to inform impactful tales that function unconventional heroes. Set within the Fifties, the story that unfolds in This Mattress We Made is tied to actual historical past when being a member of the LGBTQIA+ neighborhood was criminalized. Step into the position of Sophie, an indiscreet chambermaid at a lodge full of secrets and techniques, on this third-person thriller narrative sport that explores the lengths folks have needed to go to pursue loving relationships as their genuine self.

Have a good time Satisfaction in Forza Horizon 5

This yr’s Satisfaction-themed Xbox artwork will likely be added to Forza Horizon 5 as a vinyl: an in-game decal that you need to use to customise any automotive. Showcase this distinctive design in your automotive utilizing #ForzaRainbow on social media for an opportunity to be featured! (The vinyl will likely be obtainable beginning June 7 from the Forza Horizon accounts on Instagram and X.)

Overwatch 2 Celebrates Satisfaction with In-Recreation Map and Calling All Heroes

Overwatch 2 celebrates Satisfaction this month with the return of a fan-favorite map and Calling All Heroes. All month lengthy, the Satisfaction pageant returns to Overwatch 2’s Midtown map. Gamers can stay up for taking part in on this map as they queue for Unranked and Aggressive video games and immediately in a devoted play card on the Arcade. Calling All Heroes is Overwatch 2’s aggressive Esports collection that gives an inclusive surroundings to aspiring opponents of marginalized genders, together with those that current themselves as Trans, Non-Binary, and Genderqueer. This competitors returned final weekend, and everybody who tunes in at twitch.television/ow_esports will have the ability to earn new drops like the brand new Monarch Enterprise pores and skin.

Xbox Gear Store

Present your love and assist for Satisfaction 2024 with our new limited-edition t-shirts, hoodies and extra – designed by and with the LGBTQIA+ communities. Get your Satisfaction gear now!

Have a good time Satisfaction with the brand new 2024 Satisfaction Assortment solely on the Blizzard Gear Retailer! Led via the Blizzard LGBT+ Worker Community, the Blizzard Satisfaction Assortment options Satisfaction-themed attire benefitting The Trevor Mission from Might 15 via June 30, 2024.

Discover Xbox’s Kingdom of Coloration

In celebration of Satisfaction, the Xbox brand was reimagined as a crystal radiating with energy on the high of a magic workers. The storybook-inspired picture additionally features a fortress with festive rainbow banners and fireworks. The artist, who’s a part of the LGBTQIA+ neighborhood, imagines the Kingdom of Coloration as a spot the place individuals who determine as LGBTQIA+ rule and the magic of Satisfaction is unfold to each nook of the realm. Proper from the pages of a leather-bound e-book full of colourful artwork and calligraphy textual content, this picture evokes not solely acquainted tales of dragons, knights, and wizards, however launches these tales right into a extra inclusive future during which all gamers discover their magic.

Xbox Ambassadors Have a good time Satisfaction 2024

The Xbox Ambassadors Program is celebrating Satisfaction by spotlighting members of the Xbox Ambassadors neighborhood who responded to a current survey about their experiences as players. Learn the Xbox Ambassadors weblog to listen to neighborhood members sharing their favourite recollections taking part in video video games, recommending video games that do a very good job representing LGBTQIA+ folks and experiences, and providing tips about how one can keep secure when gaming on-line.

Satisfaction Dynamic Background and Wallpaper Out there Now

The Satisfaction Month Xbox design is out there immediately as an Xbox wallpaper and dynamic background on console – observe these steps to use the dynamic background:

• Press the Xbox button in your controller to open the information.
• Choose Profile & system > Settings > Normal > Personalization > My background > Dynamic backgrounds.

You may select between Video games, Xbox, or Summary dynamic backgrounds. Select the background artwork that you really want with the A button.

Radical Pleasure with Microsoft

Within the face of adversity, existence itself could be resistance and spark change. This Satisfaction, LGBTQIA+ folks at Microsoft share the which means of pleasure and invite everybody to unfold acceptance, abundance, and concord in all places. Be a part of us and uncover extra at Microsoft.com/pleasure.