Xbox Celebrates Black History Month

As a Black woman working in the gaming industry, finding community has been instrumental to the success I’ve found in my career. Since 2003, I’ve been an Xbox Researcher. My job is fundamentally to communicate and understand the user experience to all stakeholders during the game’s development.

Some aspects of my experiences as Black women in tech and gaming are not typical. For example, my first manager was Black. It was a great and inspiring experience for me to be managed by her. My leadership team has stressed the possibilities in this field from day one and made it clear that people like myself belong here. I’ve been able to work for and alongside diverse leaders across the Gaming organization. I’ve also connected with people who have similar experiences to my own in an employee community group for Black people at Xbox. My journey has been great thanks to the support of my community. I’ve had mentorship, resources and friends that have helped me learn and grow.

As a gamer, it feels like my path has been shaped by the experience of people who went through a lot and made it to the top. Even though I found my niche playing JRPG, action-adventure, and strategy games while playing games with my brothers, I still sometimes feel like I don’t belong as a “gamer.” Being a gamer is only one part of my identity; I am also an avid reader and a lifelong athlete. Sometimes it seems like a “real” gamer must make gaming their main hobby and play all the newest titles. It’s not like that for me; I love gaming when a title comes out that interests me, but I also take breaks and enjoy filling my life with many other activities that fulfill me, too. One thing I appreciate is how I don’t feel like an outsider with Xbox.

To those just beginning their career, remember you don’t need to have coding experience to work in the gaming industry. I am responsible for reading other people’s research, reviewing design documents and briefs, as well as playing and understanding games. Meetings, planning, presentations and gaming are all part of my job. You also don’t have to have a degree in game design; my educational background is in biological sciences, ancient Roman and world history and cultures, languages, and the science of learning. My professional life began in teaching. My current position as teacher does not have the same skills, but I can still teach.

Additionally, I’d advise you to seek out organizations that include diverse leaders and perspectives. You should also look for growth-minded people who appreciate learning. You will find them more willing and able to assist you in your quest.

Being a part of a community that supports me has allowed me to voice my opinion in gaming. These are just a few of the ways Team Xbox plans to celebrate and support Black communities this year, in order to help increase their representation.

Gerald A. Lawson Fund Names the Recipients

Xbox has been honored to partner with University of Southern California for the Gerald A. Lawson Fund For Black and Indigenous Students. This fund promotes our industry by encouraging more talent and voices into gaming.

Today, USC Games announced the first Gerald A. Lawson Fund scholarship recipients, who will be known as “Lawson Scholars.” Jerry Lawson was a Black electronic engineer who pioneered work in the video game industry including the removable video game cartridge, the 8-way joystick, and the pause button. Xbox made a donation to the Gerald A. Lawson Fund.

“At Microsoft, we are committed to fostering a more inclusive industry,” said Matt Booty, Head of Xbox Game Studios. We are grateful for USC Games’ efforts to do just that with the Gerald A. Lawson Fund. We believe that providing access to higher education and resources for these students will not only contribute to their personal career endeavors but will also spark growth and advancement within our industry.” You can You can read more information about the program right here.

Microsoft Rewards

Microsoft Rewards Members in the United States have the opportunity to earn points and donate them to Black community organizations with Xbox. Below are the organizations that will be on console

• Cxmmunity – A nonprofit organization committed to increasing BIPOC representation within the gaming and esports industry through STEAM education and career development.
• Black Girls Rock! – A global women’s movement and philanthropic organization dedicated to celebrating and empowering women and girls of color, by producing inspiring media content and providing enrichment programs for girls that foster positive identity development, critical thinking, leadership, literacy, tech, and innovation.
• Gameheads – A tech training program that uses video game design, development and DevOps to create diverse talent and bold new voices, train youth of color for the tech eco-system and prepare them for college, career and civic life.

Xbox gamers have many ways to earn Rewards points. These include playing Xbox games, Completing Game Pass Quests and selecting purchases from the Microsoft Store. You can redeem points for real rewards. Register today to get involved Donate through Xbox. 

Clif Wilson, an artist shares his inspiration for the Xbox logo design in Black History Month

In celebration of Black History Month, Xbox commissioned artist Clif Wilson to design the artwork for this year’s campaign. Clif is a 25-year-old Black, self-taught digital designer, born and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Growing up among a variety of cultures and media opened his eyes to all that is Black.  He has been inspired by Afrofuturism’s fascination in design, be it fashion or graphics. His work can be found in Ajaar today, where he creatively interacts with the environment.

Clif was a part of the design process for the Xbox logo to celebrate Black History Month.

“When approaching the imagery for this campaign, I was inspired by the idea of unity and exploration in the Black community. In the design, the sunset represents both the common perspective of struggle and hope. Each sunset and sunrise is a symbol for another opportunity to grow and make a difference. Through the computer board pattern and starry skies, the theme of exploration is portrayed in the artwork. This paints a picture of an endless world full of possibilities and places to explore. Through gaming, we are able to virtually immerse ourselves into many new spaces where we can engage with different stories and the different individuals that make up the Black gaming community.”

Check out Clif’s work at Ajaar Design ServicesAnd on Instagram.

Project Amplify

Project Amplify was launched by Xbox in September last year to support Black youth interested in entering the gaming sector. Project Amplify is a video series featuring fourteen interviews with 14 Black Xbox employees. They share their thoughts, experiences, and advice. The interviewees are in a variety of roles, including engineering, character design, programming management and production. Take a look at the video. You can watch the Project Amplify series of videos hereYou can also view personal stories about the gaming industry. Learn more Launch Project Amplify and get additional resources for game developers here.

Xbox Ambassadors Offer Missions in Black History Month

Black History Month will be celebrated by Xbox Ambassadors with a series XA Missions. They highlight Black-created games and showcase Black lead. Ambassadors have the opportunity to earn XP simply by sharing, discussing, and playing games such as Watch Dogs 2 and The Gunk 2. Participate in the conversation to unlock exclusive rewards Becoming an Xbox Ambassador today!

Microsoft Game Dev Blog celebrates Black History Month

Everyone has a different path on their journey into the games industry, whether it’s through school, retail, or the military. The following are the Microsoft Game Dev blog, we’ll be celebrating the contributions of some of our Black and African American employees and partners who create, publish, and, above all, love games with a special entry in our Pathfinding series. Pathfinding offers career advice and tips as well personal stories from the gamers who have made it this far. It often takes years of persistence to build on the passion that led them toward gaming in the first place and we’re excited to give a diverse set of people a platform to share the lessons they learned along the way with anyone considering a career in the game industry.

In Celebration of Black Community, New Gamerpics and Profile Theme. Wallpaper. Avatar Items.

In partnership with Black communities at Xbox, we’re introducing a new gamerpic, profile themes, wallpaper and avatar items! You can access the gamerpics and profiles on both console and PC via the Xbox PC App. Register now! avatar items Wallpapers here. Each country may have different content.

Microsoft offers a variety of games that are curated by black communities

Xbox is committed to making gaming accessible and enjoyable for everyone. All players should be able find characters and stories that they can relate to.

We are celebrating Black History Month by highlighting Black authors, characters and lead characters. Character creation options include diverse skin tones, inclusive hairstyles and character design options. The collection can be found on Xbox, Windows, Mobile, and Mobile. It is part of our ongoing efforts to build more inclusive gaming environments and raise content that resonates with audiences.

These are just a few highlights taken from the entire book. Game Pass CollectionXboxFull Game Pass on Windows include:

Deathloop (Available with Xbox Game Pass and Rated M) –Deathloop, which was created by Black developer Dinga Baaba (now Studio Director at Arkane Lyon), has been awarded numerous awards for both its first-person action-adventure style and its charismatic Black leads. The story follows two rival assassins, Colt and Julianna, playing a deadly game of cat & mouse over the fate of a retro futuristic world locked in a time loop.

League of Legends is available with Xbox Game Pass – The massive roster of champions in League of Legends includes characters from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, including Black champions like Ekko, K’Sante, Lucian and Senna. You can jump right into League of Legends to experience these dynamic characters’ stories and unique spells.

HUMANKIND (Available with Xbox Game Pass) – HUMANKIND, a turn-based strategy board game that allows you to create your own unique civilization from 60 different historical cultures. Discover African history, explore Africa, and tell your own tale with lively cultures like the Nubians and the Bantu.

Dishonored: Death of the Outsider (Available with Xbox Game Pass and Rated M) – You will play Billie Lurk as the famous supernatural assassin. She worked for many years alongside Daud, a legendary mercenary killer. Billie Lurk is a strong and resourceful Black woman that sheltered the disgraced empress in Dishonored 2. She now takes center stage in Dishonored 3.

The collection can be found on Microsoft Stores on Xbox in Australia, Austria and Belgium as well as the Microsoft Stores on Windows in Canada, Denmark and Finland. Visitors can find this collection at any time by searching within the Stores for “Black History” and related terms.

Xbox Plays Honors Black History Month With Streamer Takeovers

Each Monday in February, Xbox Plays will invite some of our favourite streamers to join the Xbox Plays team. Xbox Twitch Channeland handing the keys over to the channel in exchange for streamer takeovers, in honor of Black History Month All the action is on Twitch.tv/Xbox, so tune in!

February 6,^Th

• Kendrisite playing Minecraft (11am PT)
• SpringSims is playing Disney Dreamlight Valley (3:30 PT).

February 13, 2009^Th

• DataDave performing Deathloop at 11 AM PT
• Teonawrites is playing Coral Island (3:00 PT).

Februar 20^Th

• Xayd plays Disney Dreamlight Valley at 11:01 PT
• Prince & Pop playing Halo Infinite (3pm PT)

February 27, 2008^Th

• Jade Valkyrie plays League of Legends at 11am PT
• 901thagamer playing Forza Horizon 5 (3pm PT)