Xbox and Women in Games International Partner to Elevate Main Character Energy for Women in Gaming

An method I take in life is, “Live your life by design – not by default.” From a gaming perspective, we apply this with an “inclusion by design” framework to guarantee ladies really feel actually represented and expertise a deep sense of belonging, throughout all features of gaming. Whether it’s about intentional, considerate character design the place ladies see themselves as the primary character, how individuals play both on console, PC, or handheld–the experiences for ladies players differ simply as dramatically as another neighborhood.  

What excites me probably the most is seeing extra ladies actively taking part in gaming, both as a developer or a fan–or each! While we acknowledge International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, the work to guarantee ladies really feel represented, seen, and belong on Xbox occurs each single day. It’s a journey and we’re all the time studying how to get higher, however we’re dedicated and in it for the lengthy haul. I imagine that willingness to commit to each step in the journey, and get stronger with every step is foremost character power.

Join me in celebrating ladies who’ve impressed you in the gaming trade by posting on LinkedIn and nominating an #XboxMainCharacter. It might be a lady who developed a recreation you like, a content material creator whose channel you like, or just somebody who helped you’re feeling a way of belonging and invited you to play! We stand on the shoulders of those that have accomplished this work earlier than us—the various superb individuals who included us–and it’s our legacy to proceed supporting and making gaming approachable and inclusive for the ladies behind us. Join Xbox in our celebration by studying concerning the thrilling activations happening all year long beneath:

Xbox and Women in Games International Partner to Connect Women in the Industry

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Xbox is proud to announce an ongoing partnership with Women in Games International (WIGI), a nonprofit group with a mission to domesticate assets to advance financial equality and variety in the worldwide video games trade.

WIGI was based in 2005 and has been working to spotlight, have a good time and join ladies, femme-identifying, and nonbinary professionals in the video games trade. Through their applications, newsletters, panels, workshops, and networking occasions, WIGI works to normalize variety in the video games trade by growing illustration and paving the way in which for the following technology of video games trade professionals.

Xbox shares WIGI’s imaginative and prescient of a extra inclusive and numerous video games trade, the place everybody can play, create, and get pleasure from video games. Xbox is dedicated to discovering extra methods to elevate ladies in gaming and assist their development and growth. As a part of our partnership, Xbox and WIGI will collaborate on initiatives connecting WIGI’s viewers with the expertise and assets that Xbox is in a position to share. We’ll share extra particulars on Xbox’s partnership with Women in Games International at a later date.

Together, WIGI and Xbox are working to uplift extra of the primary character power taking place amongst ladies in the video games trade.

You can be taught extra about WIGI and their work at their web site: https://www.getwigi.com/. You also can comply with them on Twitter: @getwigi and Facebook: Women in Games International.

Gaming and Impact with Rewards 

Microsoft Rewards members in the United States can earn and donate factors to organizations supporting ladies with Xbox. The organizations beneath can be featured on console all through March: 

• Women in Games International – Women in Games International works to domesticate assets akin to superior information sharing, entry to expertise, and actionable mentorship applications to normalize variety in the video games trade by way of elevated illustration. (US solely)
• National Center for Transgender Equality – NCTE advocates to change insurance policies and society to enhance understanding and acceptance of transgender individuals. In the nation’s capital and all through the nation, NCTE works to change disrespect, discrimination, and violence with empathy, alternative, and justice. (US Only)

Xbox players can earn Rewards factors in numerous methods, akin to enjoying video games and finishing Game Pass Quests, and buying video games and different eligible objects on the Microsoft Store (exclusions apply). Earn factors and redeem them for actual rewards. Start incomes at present and donate by way of Xbox. 

Explore Games Featuring Powerful Women  

Powerful can imply many issues, from having the ability to tackle a horde of enemies to having the ability to apply empathy for others. During March and past, you may play a wide range of recreation collections that includes highly effective ladies as protagonists and video games created by ladies. ​ 

Check out the Store’s neighborhood video games assortment, obtainable on the Microsoft Stores on Xbox and Windows. This assortment exists 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 Game Pass members, discover what is offered in the Xbox Game Pass neighborhood assortment on Xbox and the PC Game Pass neighborhood assortment on Windows.​ 

Examples of highly effective video games to play embrace these superior titles and extra: ​ 

• Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud, and Rated M) – Play as Senua, a Celtic warrior who bravely travels to the depths of Norse hell on a quest to save the soul of her useless lover. You should overcome bodily challenges and these introduced by Senua’s thoughts.​ 
• Celeste (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud) – Follow the story of Madeline, a trans lady navigating the bodily and emotional obstacles on her self-discovery quest to the prime of Celeste Mountain. Written, designed, and directed by Maddy Thorson. ​ 
• Rise of the Tomb Raider (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud, and Rated M) – Join some of the basic online game heroines, Lara Croft, on her first tomb raiding expedition in a reimagined cinematic universe. Conquer a wild world of landscapes and configure Lara’s gear to fit your play model in this survival motion journey.​ 
• Ravenlok (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud) – Created by Vanessa Chia, escape right into a fairytale journey impressed by her nostalgia of rising up Malaysia. Fulfill your future because the younger woman, Ravenlok, on a whimsical journey to defeat the Caterpillar queen. ​ 
• Bluey (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud) – Fun for the entire household, expertise the enjoyment and marvel of Bluey’s world in this interactive journey recreation based mostly on the long-lasting kids’s TV sequence about two sisters. Play with associates and household in story mode and in free play, create your individual scenes, gather objects for your sticker e-book, and uncover hidden references in each location.  

New Forza Horizon 5 Vinyl Decal for Women’s History Month 

 This 12 months’s Women’s History Month-themed Xbox artwork, designed by Amika Cooper, is now in Forza Horizon 5 as a vinyl: an in-game decal that you should utilize to customise any automobile. Show off this distinctive design in your automobile utilizing #ForzaWHM on social media for an opportunity to be featured! (Visit the in-game Creative menu > Vinyl Groups and search for the share code: 171 005 410 .)

Artist Amika Cooper Reimagines the Xbox Logo in Celebration of Women who Bring Main Character Energy  

 For Women’s History Month, Xbox commissioned artist Amika Cooper, also called blackpowerbarbie, to redesign the Xbox emblem in celebration of girls players and the way in which they outline who players are by embracing foremost character power. Amika used that inspiration to create a picture of the Xbox sphere on the middle of a lair, representing a secure place in gaming created by and celebrating the creativity of girls.  In her phrases, “The logo is presented as a gem because I think the energy women bring to gaming makes us ‘diamonds in the rough’. I wanted it to be vibrant, stimulating, and fun – a lot of my work is creating my own surreal and fantastic landscapes, so I wanted to impart that sense of whimsy here.” 

See extra of Amika Cooper’s work on her web site. 

Xbox Ambassadors Features New Quests for Women’s History Month 

We imagine that each lady deserves recognition as a foremost character. For this Women’s History Month, we’ve related with ladies from the Xbox Ambassadors neighborhood to put a highlight on their expertise as a lady in gaming. Read alongside on the Xbox Ambassadors Community Blog.​ 

Taking our celebration to the following stage, we’re that includes a sequence of Quests, all month lengthy, for Xbox Ambassadors to full and unlock rewards. The Women’s History Month Quests function video games made by ladies creators and/or function ladies as the primary character. Join the enjoyable and grow to be an Xbox Ambassador at present!  

WHM Dynamic Background Available Now 

Amika Cooper’s Women’s History Month Xbox Sphere is offered at present as a dynamic background on console – comply with these steps to apply it: 

• Press the Xbox button in your controller to open the information. 

• Select Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization > My background > Dynamic backgrounds. 

You can select between Games, Xbox, or Abstract dynamic backgrounds. Choose the background artwork that you really want with the A button. 

It’s additionally obtainable as an Xbox wallpaper to personalize your gadgets!