Xbox Celebrates Pride and LGBTQIA+ Communities

In celebrating Pride this year, Xbox is amplifying the voices of LGBTQIA+ communities and celebrating. From new gear, to live shows, charity support, and more, Xbox is demonstrating their inclusiveness in meaningful ways.

You can find details on everything via the Xbox Wire Blog post here, and we’ll summarize for you below!

With more than half of video game players (52% ) agreeing that “my gaming identity is a better reflection of myself than my real-world identity,” video games are an important outlet that gives players – especially those who are LGBTQIA+ – the chance to be who they want to be. At Xbox, we continue to work on creating safe spaces in gaming where all LGBTQIA+ people are welcome and belong, where everyone is invited to play as their authentic self and enjoy a community that welcomes self-expression.

This is also our chance to be truly intersectional by celebrating the vast array of people and identities that make up the vibrant Xbox LGBTQIA+ global gaming communities. It is more important than ever to recognize that systems of inequity based on gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, class, and other forms of discrimination intersect and ultimately affect us all. The global issues that LGBTQIA+ communities face are interconnected and we must seek to address them together. We are inspired by those who are using their voice and actively collaborating across groups and inequities to drive change for and beyond LGBTQIA+ communities.

Xbox will continue to champion a wide array of content and creators, so that games can better represent players from all communities and identities. We also support organizations that are driving change for issues that impact LGBTQIA+ communities, in particular those fighting for transgender equality. This year Xbox, along with Microsoft, is thrilled to continue these efforts with a $170K donation to multiple LGBQTIA+ organizations, as well as feature an increased number of Pride-themed products and designs which can hopefully inspire conversations and rally community actions.  

We will help drive these conversations and amplify diverse LGBTQIA+ voices at Xbox as we continue to embrace and uplift the power of voice and identity. Here are a few ways that Team Xbox will be supporting LGBTQIA+ communities and celebrating Pride this year:

Microsoft is donating a total of $170,000 to LGBTQIA+ nonprofits

Microsoft is continuing our long-standing support of LGBTQIA+ organizations. Together with our employees, Microsoft has donated over $8M to organizations that support LGBTQIA+ communities in the last year alone. To recognize the launch of our 2022 Pride campaign and products, we’re contributing an additional $170,000 to OutRight Action International, African Rainbow Family, National Center for Transgender Equality, Mermaids, Lavender Rights Project and Fulcrum UA to help in the fight for LGBTQIA+ equity and equality.

Xbox Design Lab Features New Controller Inspired by Pride Available June 9

This year’s Pride top case design brings together 34 community flags in a fine, interwoven manner to celebrate the nuance, complexity, intersectionality, and strength of the many LGBTQIA+ communities. You can customize all other parts of the controller with a broad color palette, metallic finishes, rubberized grips, and even add engraving to make your Pride controller unique to you.

Get Your Xbox Pride Gear!

The Xbox Gear Shop celebrates Pride Month with a new 2022 Pride collection from Xbox and partnering Xbox Game Studios.

XGS Publishing: Tell Me Why Available for Free in June + Charity Livestream

Tell Me Why, the award-winning narrative adventure from Dontnod Entertainment and Xbox Publishing, will be available for free on Xbox consoles, the Microsoft Store, and Steam for the entire month of June 2022. To acknowledge that this year has seen a sharp rise in anti-trans sentiment in the United States, Xbox Publishing is accompanying the free period with donations of $25,000 each to Transgender Law Center and Trans Lifeline, two non-profit organizations offering resources and support to trans, non-binary, and genderqueer people.

Xbox Ambassadors Feature Stories about LGBTQIA+ Representation in Gaming  

Throughout Pride Month, Xbox will be spotlighting stories about representation in gaming from LGBTQIA+ Xbox Ambassadors within the communities. These are their stories.

Xbox Plays Celebrates LGBTQIA+ Communities

In celebration of Pride Month, Xbox Plays will be dedicating our livestreaming content in June to LGBTQIA+ communities, featuring streamers/content creators, developers and nonprofits! Follow Xbox on their Xbox Twitch Channel  and don’t miss any of the action!

There are additional aspects as well including in-game items, new merch and avatar items, podcast discussions, and more. So as we noted please be sure to visit Xbox Wire’s Blog post with all of the details!