Women in Games is an activist group that rightly wants more diversity and perspective in gaming, making the solid case that there should be more women in games and esports.
In 2009, when Women in Games was founded, only 6% of the Games Industry workforce identified as a woman.
In 2020 that figure had increased to 22%. That’s an improvement, but there’s clearly more to do and yesterday, Wizards of the Coast agreed to help.
The publisher of Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering are now a Corporate Ambassador.
Wizards of the Coast President Cynthia Williams said in a press release,
The Women in Games organisation is playing an essential role in shaping the present and future diversity of the global games industry and we’re incredibly proud for Wizards of the Coast to become a Corporate Ambassador and drive forward our shared vision and values. As a global game developer and publisher, we’re committed to prioritising a diverse culture that values, respects and empowers all our teams and is also reflected throughout our games.”
This blogger notes that International Women’s Day is very soon; it’ll be marked on Tuesday the 8th of March, and appreciates that Wizards of the Coast did not put a PR spin on signing up by delaying the news until the 8th. Although, well, we’ll still see what WotC and/or Hasbro do on the 8th.
There are plenty of other Corporate Ambassadors, it should also be noted. Other games companies in the program include, but are not limited to;
- 2K Games
- Rockstar Games
- Outplay Entertainemtn
- Ubisoft
- Jagex
- Amazon Web Services
- Riot Games
- Team 17
Women in Games CEO Marie-Claire Isaaman added
We are delighted that Wizards of the Coast has joined our Corporate Ambassador Programme. Its franchises are known and loved around the world, and it is particularly heartening to see that a global company like Wizards of the Coast is showing such a significant commitment to promoting and appointing women within its leadership team. We very much look forward to working with them in our joint goal of creating a fair playing field for women throughout the games industry.”
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