{"id":94610,"date":"2026-04-26T13:46:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T13:46:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.xbox.com\/en-us\/?p=148998"},"modified":"2026-04-26T13:46:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T13:46:13","slug":"xbox-celebrates-black-voices-and-drives-community-impact-during-black-history-month-and-beyond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/xbox-celebrates-black-voices-and-drives-community-impact-during-black-history-month-and-beyond\/","title":{"rendered":"Xbox Celebrates Black Voices and Drives Community Impact During Black History Month and Beyond"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At Xbox, we are committed to building the most inclusive community on the planet, where everyone can experience the joy and connection of gaming and bring their authentic selves to  the action. In 2021, we will be celebrating Black History Month<\/a> by offering captivating gaming experiences, highlighting the contributions of influential Black and African American developers and creators, while raising awareness of important causes that matter to Black communities.<\/p>\n

We believe that small actions from members of the Xbox community can lead to lasting change in the industry, such as speaking up to report<\/a> and callout racist remarks, learning about Black history and culture, and empowering Black-owned businesses and inclusive creators.<\/p>\n

By amplifying Black voices, partnering with more Black creators, and continuing to address racial injustice, we strive to contribute to real change in our industry. We are committed to supporting Black audiences across the globe through programs that focus on issues relevant to them.<\/p>\n

This past June, Team Xbox stood together with the Xbox player community in support of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., Black Lives Matter Support Fund and Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) by collectively donating over $3 million to these crucial causes. This contribution is part of our broader commitment<\/a> to help take action and address racial injustice.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the ways we plan to celebrate and elevate Black Communities:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Digital Stores \u2013 Xbox & Windows: Discover Games, Movies and TV Curated by Black Communities at Microsoft<\/strong><\/p>\n

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This February and beyond, we are highlighting collections of games, movies, and TV shows selected by Black communities at Microsoft that bring focus to Black creators, experiences, protagonists, and more.<\/p>\n

Check out a few highlights from the full games collection<\/a> featuring creators<\/a>, protagonists<\/a>, playable characters<\/a>, and character creation options<\/a>: <\/p>\n

Afterparty<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 Players enjoyed seeing Lola in this supernatural adventure from creator Adam Hines.
Watch Dogs 2<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 Notable protagonist Marcus Holloway is a self-taught hacker, and the game has been praised for its accurate portrayal of experiences, like code-switching, that have made community members feel seen.
Apex Legends<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 Bangalore and Lifeline have excited players as two playable Black women with unique and differentiated backgrounds in a major title.
The Sims 4<\/em> <\/strong>\u2013 We love that developers worked with an influential Black modder and others to produce a recent update<\/a> with 100+ skin tones, customization tools for skin tones and makeup, plus improved base game hairstyles.<\/p>\n

Standouts from the full movies and TV collection<\/a> featuring creators<\/a>, leads<\/a>, educational views<\/a>, and family entertainment<\/a> include: <\/p>\n

“Black Panther”<\/strong> \u2013 The loss of Chadwick Boseman was tragic, but he remains a guide to an inspiring world where Black, African, and Brown people are equal, part of a respected culture, and leading global innovations. Directed by Ryan Coogler.
“Insecure”<\/strong> \u2013 From an amazing soundtrack of lesser-known Black artists, to its natural hairstyles and lighting, this Emmy nominated show created by Issa Rae is a relatable hit.
“Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse” <\/strong>\u2013 Miles Morales brings visibility to Puerto Rican and Afro-Latino roots as Spider-Man.
“Hidden Figures” <\/strong>\u2013 This movie highlights the true story of three Black women, mathematicians that were the brains behind one of the greatest operations in human history at NASA.<\/p>\n

Some visitors in the United States and Canada can check out the complete collections on the Microsoft Store on Xbox, the Microsoft Store on Windows<\/a>, and the Xbox App on Windows. Starting March 1, visitors to both the Xbox and Windows Stores can find Microsoft Black community picks by searching for \u201cBlack History Month\u201d and related terms. <\/p>\n

Xbox Community Game Club Experience<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Xbox Community Game Club<\/a> is a weekly way to play, share, and discuss games together as a community. In celebration of Black History Month, we’re featuring titles and games developed by Black\/African American creators and featuring Black\/African American characters and voice actors. Check in weekly to discover your new favorite game and use #XboxGameClub to discuss the importance of representation in gaming.<\/p>\n

Xbox Ambassadors Share Their Stories<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Highlighting and amplifying community voices is central to the Xbox Ambassadors mission. So, in celebration of Black History Month, we asked those who identify as Black\/African American how games with representation of their identities have impacted them and to share their own stories about being a member of a gaming community. We received hundreds of responses and, with much consideration, selected the following to share. <\/p>\n

Here are their stories: blog-ambassadors.xbox.com\/black-history-month-xbox-ambassadors<\/a><\/p>\n

Xbox Programming to Celebrate Black History Month<\/strong><\/p>\n

Xbox will be dedicating our livestreaming content all month long in celebration of Black History Month by featuring Black protagonists in games, developers, content creators and streamers! Follow us at Twitch.tv\/Xbox so you don\u2019t miss any of the action!<\/p>\n