Being Black is not a monolith, which is why the culture’s approach to gaming is not something that is one-size-fits-all. That said, Xbox is on a mission to revolutionize the industry by offering a variety of games that fit the many needs of those playing. Beyond those who play games, there is also a space for those who have an interest in creating them over at the Microsoft-led company. One of the latest games that stem from Xbox is South of Midnight, a spellbinding third-person action-adventure game set in the American Deep South. Designed to celebrate Black heritage and Southern culture, the project follows main character Hazel, who was created by Compulsion Game’s, Zaire Lanier, who serves as the writer and narrative designer on the game. “When creating Hazel, for me, it was important to not think of Blackness as a monolith,” she said during the “ WOVEN: The Power of Black Voices in Gaming” panel at Microsoft’s Black TechXcellence House during the AFROTECH™ Conference 2024.  ...

Nearly 630,000 Fortnite players were reportedly “tricked” into making purchases through the game and will receive a refund. According to a press release, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reportedly accused Fortnite developer Epic Games of leading gamers to make “unwanted purchases” by carrying out tactics through its game button configuration. “For example, players could be charged while attempting to wake the game from sleep mode, while the game was in a loading screen, or by pressing an adjacent button while attempting simply to preview an item,” the press release from the FTC read. It had also been brought to light that Epic Games had allowed minors to accumulate charges without parental approval and blocked gamers who filed disputes of unauthorized charges, preventing them from obtaining items they had purchased. For these reasons, the company received an order from the FTC to refund players in December 2022 who had been subjected to these “unlawful billing practices.” The...

For anyone who gets frustrated with their partner’s gaming habits, Tee Grizzley may have some news to change your mind. During an appearance on the “Earn Your Leisure” podcast , the rapper and gamer pro shared that he has “made millions” from simply playing video games. “The way to make money, you gotta know how to repurpose things,” Tee Grizzley explained, detailing how he generates income through Twitch. “Boom, you got subscribers, you got ads, you got people that can donate to you — and the sky’s the limit with all that stuff.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by VSG Entertainment (@vsgent) He continued, “With your videos saved, so you can take those videos [and] you can make content out of them on your TikTok, your Instagram, YouTube. You can [even] get a bag off Snapchat.” This isn’t the first time Grizzley has highlighted his lucrative gaming ventures. As AFROTECH™ reported, in a 2022 interview with the “Million Dollaz Worth Of Game” podcast, Grizzley shared that...

Drake fans are responding after a Kendrick Lamar video game attracted more than a million players. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the rapper’s song “Not Like Us” inspired a web-based game developed by Richie Branson, whose real name is Marcus Brown II. “Not Like Us: The Game” allows users to play as Lamar. The objective is to hit an owl piñata using a baseball bat until candy pours out. With each hit, the speed of the owls progressively increases and players hear the word “wop.” Someone tell @aubreysattorney and @certifiedjared we’re live with a “Family Matters” game. https://t.co/liLzQffnM7 — Family Matters: The Game ⁶𓅓 (@fammattersgame) July 22, 2024 The game has been a success, garnering 1.2 million players in its first 36-hour period, Branson revealed on X, formerly Twitter. “I did this for the people,” Branson told Rolling Stone. “I did it as a love letter to hip-hop and music, and because of that I wanted to make sure people would enjoy it. This particular game and the way...

Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” is now a video game. The song, which some may call a diss track, others a West Coast anthem, was released on May 4, 2024 and debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. In the U.S., it logged 70.9 million official streams, made 5 million radio airplay impressions, and sold 15,000 copies by May 9. Exactly two months later, Lamar dropped the highly anticipated  music video, which has gained 69.9 million views (at the time of this writing). Now, the hit song has made its way to the gaming world. According to Rolling Stone, “Not Like Us: The Game” gives players the ability to play the web-based game as Kendrick Lamar, and with a baseball bat they must hit an owl piñata until candy pours out. Each time users hit the owl piñata, they will hear the word “wop” played. The concept was developed by Richie Branson, whose real name is Marcus Brown II. “I did this for the people,” Branson told Rolling Stone. “I did it as a love letter to hip-hop and music, and...

Bronny James just took home a top prize in the gaming world. The Los Angeles Lakers player participated in the “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III” Tournament, which was held during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, NV, Bleacher Report mentions. James outperformed Charlotte Hornets’ Grant Williams and Detroit Pistons’ Bobi Klintman during a drill contest that lasted two minutes, with James scoring 84 points. As a result, he walked away victorious with a $10,000 prize pool and a “Call of Duty” championship belt. The outlet also notes James had previously played in other “Call of Duty” tournaments and competed for a $25,000 prize in “Modern Warfare III” back in May. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bleacher Report (@bleacherreport) James’ interest in gaming should come as no surprise. In fact, in 2020 he became a member of esports group FaZe Clan, TMZ Sports reported at the time. “He joined as our newest member. It’s a very authentic relationship that developed between...

Afro Unicorn Founder April Showers is taking her business to the gaming space. Showers launched Afro Unicorn, a character brand founded in 2019 to empower Black girls and women. As AFROTECH™ previously mentioned, its products include apparel items such as leggings and shirts and party favors such as plates, napkins, balloons, decorations, and pinatas. The brand also carries apparel for babies, accessories, and bags, among others. Showers ensured that her product was marketed in various shades to reflect the multitude of complexions among Black consumers. In addition to showing inclusivity in how Black people are portrayed, the founder wants others to know that Afro Unicorn is more than a brand. “My main goal for Afro Unicorn™ is to ensure Black girls and women feel unique, divine, and magical,” Showers said in a news release. She added, “Afro Unicorn™ is more than a line of products. It’s a movement to make sure Black people are represented and have a seat at the table. I’m grateful...

In 2015, Bryson Tiller released his debut studio album, “Trapsoul.” In a Complex interview, the singer and rapper described the album as “a super slow burn.” “Trapsoul” introduced the music industry to a new genre, a combination of Trap and Soul, a nd it is still appreciated by fans today. Its trajectory ultimately took Tiller from first releasing his music on SoundCloud to his debut album reaching triple-platinum status with over 5.8 billion streams in the United States, per RCA Records. What’s more, the singer-songwriter earned a Grammy nomination for “Best R&B Song” for “Exchange,” one of his hit singles, along with “Don’t” and “Sorry Not Sorry.” Tiller shared that his success in the music industry reminds creatives that it’s important not to listen to outsiders for validation. “People are going to love your sh-t, and they’re going to hate it,” Tiller told Complex during the promo run for his eponymous album released in April 2024. “Now, when I create music, I don’t really care...