June is Pride Month, a time for celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community and promoting equality and diversity. Xbox is joining in on the festivities by announcing how it will be supporting LGBTQIA+ communities across Pride Month, as well as which games are celebrating with special content.
Specifically, Xbox Game Studios Publishing has announced on the official Xbox Wire website that it is partnering with GLAAD, a renowned LGBTQIA+ media advocacy organization, to bring more LGBTQIA+ stories, characters, and lived experiences to future Xbox games. The partnership aims for greater representation in the gaming industry and promotes inclusivity for all players.
One of the ways Xbox is supporting Pride Month is by offering free games with LGBTQIA+ themes. An Xbox game that highlights the story of a trans protagonist will be available for free on consoles and PC all June long in honor of Pride. Developer Dontnod announced via Twitter on Friday that the studio's 2020 adventure game Tell Me Why will be free to download on Steam and Xbox. The game features a transgender main character and explores themes of identity, family, and acceptance.
Don't Nod Entertainment has made one of its best games free throughout all of June 2023. Tell Me Why, a narrative adventure from DONTNOD and Xbox Game Studios, will be free on both Xbox and Windows PC over Pride Month, June 2023. The game follows the story of twins Tyler and Alyson as they uncover family secrets and come to terms with their past and present.
In addition to free games, Xbox has revealed the many ways it's supporting the LGBTQIA+ community this Pride Month. Xbox and GLAAD will use their new partnership to bring more LGBTQIA+ stories, characters, and lived experiences to future Xbox games. Xbox is also partnering with organizations like The Trevor Project and It Gets Better to help support LGBTQIA+ youth and mental health.
This year, Xbox is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Global LGBTQIA+ Employees and Allies at Microsoft (GLEAM) employee resource group. GLEAM is a community within Microsoft that promotes diversity and inclusion for LGBTQIA+ employees and allies. Xbox is proud to support its LGBTQIA+ employees and communities and will continue to promote diversity and inclusivity in the gaming industry.
In addition to free games, Xbox is offering special Pride-themed content for games like Minecraft and Sea of Thieves. Minecraft is offering a free Pride skin pack that features characters with various Pride flags. Sea of Thieves has added Pride-themed sails and emotes that players can purchase to show their support during Pride Month.
Xbox's commitment to promoting inclusivity and diversity in the gaming industry is commendable. By partnering with organizations like GLAAD and supporting LGBTQIA+ communities, Xbox is helping to create a more inclusive and welcoming gaming environment for all players.
Overall, Xbox is showing its support for the LGBTQIA+ community in a big way this Pride Month. With free games, new partnerships, and special Pride-themed content for games, Xbox is leading the way in promoting inclusivity and diversity in the gaming industry.
