Xbox Game Studios publisher on Microsoft’s diversity initiative

In Microsoft’s E3 2021 presentation last week, the Xbox maker finally revealed the fruits of its five-year plan to forge an empire. The company’s superiors have spent Years Build on that future, quietly work on acquisitions and refine the Xbox platform while competitor Sony flashed its big screen games, such as God of War and Spider Man. Now Microsoft has something to show for these seemingly slow years.

Based on the Xbox and Bethesda E3 showcase, there doesn’t seem to be a “type” of gamer the company is targeting, with games big and small in the mix. Then there is the temptation to get a good deal on Xbox Game Pass and easy access through Xbox Cloud Gaming. But the company’s focus on inclusivity goes even deeper, Peter Wyse, publishing director for Xbox Game Studios, told Polygon. Inclusivity is a core principle of the company, beyond its games.

Image: Dontnod Entertainment / Xbox Game Studios

“You can see this comes into focus in a game like that tell me why“Said Wyse. “We are very proud of this game. It speaks for our values ​​around the representation of LGBTQIA +, awareness of mental health and more. “

According to Wyse, that mentality extends to Xbox’s development partner and recruiting processes as well. Microsoft has a relationship too Playheads, a technology training program that prepares low-income and black youth ages 15 to 24 for jobs in the video game industry. These initiatives, along with partnerships with women-run studios and opportunities for creators to express their opinion on the diversity in the industry, are leading to a more diverse range of games from Xbox. For example, Microsoft Senior Audio Director Elise Baldwin talks to studio about the studio’s inclusive audio practices tell me why at this year’s Game Developers Conference.

Microsoft’s new focus on cloud gaming similarly aims to make games more accessible to people who don’t have or don’t want a game console or computer. The company’s next big goal is to create “cloud-native games,” said Wyse. “We don’t know exactly what it looks like today or what it plays at all.”

So that you can imagine the answer to this question, portal and left 4 Dead Developer Kim Swift will join the Xbox Cloud Gaming team as a Senior Director. Swift was most recently Game Design Director at Google Stadia. “Kim will build a team focused on new experiences in the cloud, something that supports our mission to bring our Xbox games to connect 3 billion players to play our games,” said Wyse.

“[Xbox head] Phil [Spencer] always speaks of this journey to get the 3 billion players, “said Wyse. He reiterated that this should include players on all different platforms. “I’m very excited about the idea of ​​high fidelity gaming on a phone […] This is the carrot that I always chase after. ”