LGBTQ Pride Month is here! Every year during June, many games hold special pride events, donate to LGBTQ organizations, and release in-game cosmetic items and outfits to celebrate the strength and resilience of the LGBTQ community. Players won’t want to miss out on the exciting new content and exclusive deals that this Pride Month has to offer. Not sure where to start? Here are just a few of the video games and developers that are taking this year’s Pride Month to the next level:
Overwatch 2
Pride Month is back in Overwatch 2. This 5v5 competitive multiplayer game delighted fans when it first celebrated Pride Month in 2023, introducing a plethora of LGBTQ flag-themed cosmetics, confirming via a touching short story that two characters on its existing roster were LGBTQ, and redesigning its New York hybrid map, Midtown, with Pride parade decor. This year, the fully decked-out Midtown is back, but it’s not the only thing that Blizzard has in store for its LGBTQ players. New Queen Street, a push map set in Toronto, now sports two rainbow crosswalks, and Venture, Overwatch 2’s first transgender nonbinary hero, has a brand new comic about some of the dangers they’ve encountered on their archaeological missions. Those who watched at least two hours of the Major 1 competition for Calling All Heroes, Overwatch 2’s esports division for marginalized genders, also received an exclusive skin for Venture that is modeled after the colors in the nonbinary Pride flag.
Cheers love, the Pride Parade is here 🏳️🌈🎉
The Pride Month festivities are LIVE NOW in #Overwatch2 ✨ pic.twitter.com/70cOwoBAky
— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) June 3, 2024
New in-game content isn’t the only thing players have to look forward to. In a comprehensive blog post that detailed all of their plans for Pride Month in Overwatch 2, Blizzard announced their 2024 Pride Month apparel collection, with proceeds going to The Trevor Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth. The blog also included a list of LGBTQ Overwatch 2 creators for fans to watch, follow, and support. And it is no surprise that the LGBTQ community is so eager to make and watch content about a game whose most recognizable character is a lesbian, as it was one of the first AAA games in the first-person shooter genre to have a prominent queer character. Overwatch 2’s Pride Month events have quickly become a beloved addition for its LGBTQ community, and we can’t wait to see what Blizzard has in store for future years.
Warframe
Pride Month returns to the futuristic world of Warframe, a free-to-play multiplayer shooter set in a dazzling sci-fi world. Digital Extremes once again shows their commitment to supporting LGBTQ players and communities with donations to both Rainbow Railroad and Trans Lifeline, two organizations that provide safety and resources for at-risk LGBTQ people. But that isn’t all. Players can also rep their queer pride by purchasing different Pride-themed cosmetics designed by LGBTQ Warframe fans. Missed out on past Pride Month displays, glyphs, and color palettes? Thankfully, cosmetics from previous years are also making a return, making it easier than ever to snag in-game customization options that allow players to display LGBTQ pride year-round. Between missions, don’t forget to check out the featured LGBTQ creators listed in Warframe’s Pride Month newsletter for exclusive Twitch viewership rewards. Link your Warframe and Twitch account to start watching and earning free Pride cosmetics today.
Highrise
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See AlsoWarframe: 11 Year Anniversary
Highrise is bringing the glitz and glam for PrideRise, a series of in-game celebrations that spotlight and uplift its queer fanbase while also giving back to the larger community. Along with having a variety of player-hosted events like LGBTea, Punk Pride, and the Rainbowify Style Challenge, players can log in to claim free rainbow-themed daily gifts and head to the store to buy various user-created LGBTQ Pride apparel. Even better, all proceeds generated from Pride-related cosmetics will be donated to charities that support LGBTQ youth. Inclusivity, self-expression, and finding communities are cornerstones in Highrise’s design philosophy, and its colorful world is available to explore from the comfort of your phone. Pride Month is the perfect time to log back on – or jump in for the first time – so you don’t miss out on any of the goodies and fun activities that are taking place all throughout June.
Subway Surfers
#SkateLikeAGirl #SurfAsYourself
Let’s learn how to create a welcoming skate space!
LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER
“All of us have felt intimidated at a skate spot, especially when we were first starting out or not feeling as confident. Look out for the people hanging back. Consider… pic.twitter.com/FcJvtVidUj— Subway Surfers (@subwaysurfers) June 4, 2024
For this year’s Pride Month, Subway Surfers has partnered with Skate Like a Girl, an organization that uses skateboarding to empower women, trans people, and other skaters of marginalized genders to become leaders in their communities. It is no secret that Subway Surfers is a loud and proud proponent for LGBTQ equality and education, and this year is no different, placing an emphasis on educating fans on how to make skate spaces safe and inclusive for all. In celebration of Pride Month, Subway Surfers also introduced Riley, a new playable surfer and genderfluid teenager from San Francisco that is known for their eye for fashion and love of soda. The current San Francisco game setting also comes with a brand new soundtrack, and fans can stream the full song – Surf as Yourself – to get into the Pride Month groove.
Riot Games
Pride Month celebrations are a staple of the Riot Games universe, and it is always exciting to see what new ideas the teams bring to their games. Along with various Pride-themed banners, emotes, and weapon charms that players can claim from the shops in League of Legends, Wild Rift, Teamfight Tactics, and Valorant, Riot Games also published an official Pride Month playlist of songs by LGBTQ artists. The playlist was curated in part by Madge, the artist behind the track 2WORLDS that plays during the introduction trailer of Valorant’s first nonbinary agent, Clove. Riot Games also created the Community Pride Hub, giving LGBTQ players and allies the opportunity to share art, cosplay, videos, and more in support of Pride Month. The yearly in-game cosmetics are always a must-have when June comes around, and exploring community creations while finding new LGBTQ artists is another Pride Month opportunity you won’t want to miss.
Tell Me Why
Xbox Game Studios and DON’T NOD continue their yearly tradition of making Tell Me Why free during Pride Month, making it an accessible and fun way for players to experience LGBTQ stories. One of the two playable protagonists, Tyler Ronan, is a queer trans man whose character and story were developed in partnership with GLAAD alongside other queer and trans employees at DON’T NOD and Xbox to ensure his story was told with authenticity and compassion. This GLAAD Media Award winner is a masterclass in LGBTQ-inclusive storytelling and Pride Month is the perfect time to revisit Tyler’s story or experience the complete game for the very first time. Grab all three chapters of Tell Me Why for free on Steam or Xbox.
Call of Duty
Happy Pride Month.
A FREE bundle is now live in Call of Duty in MW3 x Warzone with 6 camos to use in game across all weapons. pic.twitter.com/YDU1tCNzCj
— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) June 1, 2024
If there is one thing that Call of Duty fans can agree on, it is that being able to customize the appearance of weapons and playable operators is part of what makes the game so fun. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III’s Pride Month celebration has its players covered with an array of free weapon skins and charms modeled after various LGBTQ Pride flags. For players that don’t own Modern Warfare III, these weapon cosmetics are also available in Call of Duty: Warzone, a free-to-play battle royale that has cemented itself as a household name since its release in 2020. Claim the Pride Month gift pack before Season 4 ends.
Pride Month Game Bundles
Bundles of love, games, turtles, and tech abound!
It’s all about matters of the heart and the joy of human connection in this bundle of poignant story-heavy games, in commemoration of Pride Month and supporting @TrevorProject. | https://t.co/ChikOaCTJr pic.twitter.com/OWeII1qMAD
— Humble Bundle (@humble) May 31, 2024
Looking to add more games with LGBTQ characters and stories to your library? Two annual Pride Month bundles make it easy to do just that. Humble Bundle is back again with their Stories of Pride collection – an 8-item bundle of games that center LGBTQ stories, including the GLAAD-nominated cozy farm sim, Wylde Flowers. This Stories of Pride collection allows players to pay what they want, with an $18 minimum for the full bundle, though smaller bundles with fewer games and a lower minimum cost are available for those that wish for a cheaper option. Even better, every purchase supports the developers of each game, Humble Games, and The Trevor Project, giving those who purchase the collection the ability to allot the funds however they would like. The yearly Queer Games Bundle is another excellent collection of games, software, and comics that supports the 271 LGBTQ creators that contributed to the bundle. The collection asks for $60 to directly support those creators, but the Queer Games Bundle always offers a Pay What You Can option so players can gain access to inclusive content regardless of financial ability. These bundles may be Pride Month exclusives, but they are sure to keep players busy all year long with great content that prioritizes inclusivity, acceptance, and the continued support of LGBTQ creators, charities, and communities.
