New Game Festival Celebrates LGBTQIA+ Indie Games and Developers for Charity

October 4, 2021

Playtra Games and Gayming Magazine join forces to launch “Indie Games Make It Better,” a weeklong gaming marathon to benefit the It Gets Better Project.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - Indie Games Make It Better kicks off on National Coming Out Day, Oct. 11, and runs through Oct. 17. The festival highlights more than a dozen indie games made by LGTBQIA+ developers and teams and invites streamers to fundraise for the It Gets Better Project, a nonprofit providing critical support and hope to LGBTQ+ young people around the world.

“Indie games offer developers the chance to tell wholesome, real stories and dive in to some pretty contentious areas,” Robin Gray, founder of Gayming Magazine says. “This freedom to write and craft stories is something that the big studios struggle with because they are usually worried about their bottom line rather than telling the best possible story.”

The creative potential and the accessibility of indie game development has made it a major beachhead for LGBTQIA+ developers, creating impactful stories inside and outside of games. Some indies use their games to tell LGBTQ stories, but many indies are using their behind-the-scenes access to build diverse teams, champion welcoming workplaces, and to tear down barriers for underrepresented creators and players.

“This is about addition, not subtraction,” Dan Bernardo, Playtra Games founder says. “Despite the increasing awareness of the importance of adding diverse voices to the gaming industry, very little investment and trust go to indie projects, especially those developed by LGBTQIA+ creators. Despite that, indies will continue risking everything, trailblazing trends and using these wonderful empathy-making machines called games to support great causes like the It Gets Better Project. And I hope more big players in the industry eventually join us in this mission.”

Indie Games Make It Better features more than 40 streamers and over a dozen indie games. Players are invited to explore this treasure trove of titles from a wide array of genres and to jump into stream communities playing these games live. 100 percent of donations go to the It Gets Better Project to support their work with LGBTQ+ youth.

Official supporters of Indie Games Make It Better include:

Creative Assembly
WINGS
Accidental Queens
Snoozy Kazoo
Deli Interactive
Beautiful Glitch
Perfect Garbage
Grimorio of Games
Split Fate Studios
Rocket Adrift
Seagull Fish Entertainment
IV Productions

More details for the event are available on the official event website.

About Playtra Games

Playtra is an independent game studio based in London. Our mission is to create games that define a generation. We believe games have the power to change everything. Great games have been inspiring people since the dawn of humanity, and we will still be playing games when we're all living inside asteroids, in the depths of space.

About Gray Jones Media and Gayming Magazine

Gray Jones Media is the world’s fastest growing LGBTQ+ media network which includes magazines, TV, podcasts, and live events. The unique ecosystem of platforms and outlets not only provides audiences with a 360-degree experience but also provides brands with unparalleled access to the LGBTQ+ community in a way which no other LGBTQ+ outlet can offer.

About the It Gets Better Project

Launched by syndicated columnist Dan Savage and his partner Terry Miller, the It Gets Better Project is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that leverages the power of media to reach and provide critical support and hope to LGBTQ+ young people around the world. Through collaborative partnerships elevating positive portrayals of the LGBTQ+ community, the It Gets Better Project strives to uplift, empower, and connect LGBTQ+ young people around the globe. Connect with the It Gets Better Project: @ItGetsBetter; Facebook.com/ItGetsBetterProject; and YouTube.com/ItGetsBetterProject.