MIL-OSI Banking: Xbox celebrates Pride: Games foster connection, support and chosen family

Source: Microsoft

Headline: Xbox celebrates Pride: Games foster connection, support and chosen family

Xbox believes in the power of connection — and during Pride Month, we honor LGBTQIA+ people who have long shown the world what it means to build a community that transcends borders and expectations.

LGBTQIA+ individuals have formed networks of support and deep friendships rooted in love, resilience, and care. They remind us of the importance of community, connection and chosen family that encourages, uplifts, and cares for one another. Xbox celebrates exactly that: affection, support, and a shared belief that everyone deserves to be seen and celebrated by their communities.

In many ways, gaming offers new ways to connect with the community.

Whether you’re teaming up online, voice chatting in a cozy co-op farming sim, or building entire worlds together, games create spaces where connection thrives. For LGBTQIA+ players, these experiences often go beyond fun — they can help fill the need to find belonging.

This Pride Month, Xbox is proud to highlight a collection of games from LGBTQIA+ creators — stories that explore identity, celebrate self-expression, and reflect the beautiful complexity of the LGBTQIA+ experience. These creators are helping us see the world through different perspectives — telling stories where everyone can feel at home.

We’re committed to making gaming for everyone, which includes supporting LGBTQIA+ creators and communities — not just during Pride, but all year long. For more than 30 years, Microsoft and our employees have stood alongside LGBTQIA+ communities, contributing over $17 million to organizations advancing equity, dignity, and human rights. Last year, we gave more than $1.3 million to support this work globally, and this year we’re deepening that commitment with an additional $100,000 donation to organizations doing critical work for the community.

From the games we feature to the programs we support, our goal is to continue fostering a platform where everyone can play, create, and connect authentically. That’s the heart of what we’re celebrating this Pride: the power of community, built by choice and strengthened by care.

We have each other.

Show Your Pride in Overwatch 2

Pride returns to Overwatch 2 with more meaningful ways to celebrate and connect! From free rewards and a festive fan-favorite map, to a charity tournament with Twitch drops, plus community artwork and new narratives, Pride 2025 is a moment to reflect, express, and commemorate everyone who makes our world—and the game—stronger. Whether you’re rocking the Resilient Soldier: 76 skin, skipping through Midtown celebrating after a parade, or simply showing up as your authentic self, this event is about standing proud and honoring our diverse community.

So, we’re celebrating our heroes, players, and stories with heartfelt touches, creative moments, and a space to be exactly who you are. You belong here, and we’re proud to compete by your side.

• Show Your Pride: Log in during the Pride event to instantly unlock the Resilient Soldier: 76 skin and matching emote as thanks for helping to build this amazing community.
• Midtown Parade: Step into the Pride Festival Midtown map, back in rotation and looking more joyful than ever. Celebrate after the Pride parade with whimsical rainbow crosswalks, confetti-covered sidewalks, and love in the air.

Pride Ahoy! A Celebration Fer All Crews in Sea of Thieves

During Pride Month, pirates sailing in Sea of Thieves can pick up the Progress Pride Flag from the ever-reliable Larinna outside the tavern! Proud pirates in participating territories will now be able to attach this fabulous fabric to their flagpole forevermore. While introduced as part of Pride Month 2025 activities, this beautiful banner is a permanent addition to Sea of Thieves and will be available to claim from the shipwright at any Outpost after June has passed.

Sowin’ Seeds of Pride in Farm Heroes Saga

Farm Heroes Saga is celebrating Pride Month with a vibrant Pride Season that sows the seeds of community, visibility, and joyful self-expression. Now in its third year, this celebration brings a fresh crop of Pride-themed events and mini-games to players around the world. From nurturing a magical Rainbow Superfruit in 1-2-3 Grow, to collecting cropsies in the Farmer’s Market and unlocking special rewards in the colorful Choo Choo’s Challenge; there’s something for every hero on the Farm.

With the Pride-themed Farm Pass and the premium Golden Pass, players can earn even more farmtastic rewards. Whether you’re digging through the Hidden Garden, playing Amelia’s Arcade, or making wishes at the Wishing Well, this month is all about growing love, celebrating identity, and having a fabulously good time.

Tell Me Why – Free This Month

Tell Me Why, the award-winning narrative adventure from Don’t Nod Entertainment and Xbox Game Studios Publishing, will be available for free on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, and Steam for the entire month of June 2025. As in past years, the Tell Me Why team encourages players to give what they would have spent on the game to an independent trans creator or a trans-inclusive charity in their community.

Discover Games Shaped by the LGBTQIA+ Community

This June, immerse yourself in a curated collection of games that highlight the incredible creativity and storytelling from LGBTQIA+ developers and creators. These games offer a window into the diverse experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community, showcasing how their unique perspectives continue to shape and enrich the world of gaming.

Check out a few highlights from our full Xbox Game Collections celebrating Pride Month:

Xbox Gear Shop

The Xbox Gear Shop is celebrating Pride 2025 by bringing back our most popular designs for a limited time! These classic designs were made by and with the LGBTQIA+ community, and will be available through Pride month only, and only in the Xbox Gear Shop!

Blizzard Gear Shop

Celebrate Pride month with the new Blizzard 2025 Pride Collection exclusively on the Blizzard Gear Store!

Led by the Blizzard LGBT+ Employee Network, this year’s Pride Collection features all-new logo designs for each of our games, available on t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, and hoodies—all benefitting* GLAAD from June 2 through June 30, 2025.

*From June 2, 2025, to June 30, 2025, Blizzard Entertainment will donate 100% of the amount Blizzard receives from Blizzard’s e-commerce store operator from the sale of each of the products from the 2025 Blizzard Pride Collection to GLAAD. This represents approximately 25% of the purchase price (less any chargebacks, refunds, and Value Added Taxes (VAT), or similar taxes paid.)

Gaming with Impact

Rewards members in the United States can earn and donate points to organizations supporting LGBTQIA+ communities with Xbox. The organizations below will be available on the Rewards hub:

• GLAAD: Founded in 1985, GLAAD – the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization – works with television, film, video games, Spanish-language media, journalists, and social media to tell stories and consult on LGBTQ media representation. GLAAD tackles tough issues and provokes dialogue that leads to cultural change through increased media accountability, public campaigns, corporate engagement initiatives, and advocacy programs that help to ensure 100% inclusion and acceptance of the LGBTQ community. (US)

• Outright International: Outright International is dedicated to working with partners around the globe to strengthen the capacity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) human rights movement, document and amplify human rights violations against LGBTIQ people, and advocate for inclusion and equality. (US)

• Advocates for Trans Equality Education Fund: Advocates for Trans Equality fights for the legal and political rights of transgender people in America. Leveraging decades of experience on the frontlines of power, we shift government and society towards a future where we are no less than equal. A4TE was founded in 2024 as the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF), two long-time champions for the trans community, merged together as one organization. A4TE builds on their successes to boldly imagine a world where trans people live our lives joyfully and without barriers. In a time of increased extremism against trans people and our allies, protecting and expanding our freedom to be who we are has never been more important.

Xbox players 18 and older can earn Rewards points in various ways, such as playing games, completing Game Pass Quests (terms apply), and purchasing games and other eligible items at the Microsoft Store (exclusions apply). Start earning for impact today and redeem your points for great rewards. Donate your points on the Rewards hub or on the Rewards redeem page.

Wallpapers and Dynamic Backgrounds

The Xbox Pride Month design is available today as an Xbox wallpaper and dynamic background on console – follow these steps to apply the dynamic background:

• Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide.
• Select Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization > My background > Dynamic backgrounds.

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