Summary
- Indigenous creators are reshaping the gaming landscape by telling authentic stories that reclaim historical narratives and imagine empowered futures, rooted in tradition and lived experience.
- Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition spotlights this shift, with cultural expert Anthony Brave leading the respectful representation of Indigenous peoples as he penned the new ’Shadow’ campaign storyline.
- Xbox is celebrating and supporting Indigenous voices in gaming through a curated collection of games by Indigenous developers and storytellers, highlighting the power of games as a modern vessel for cultural preservation, education, and community.
Gaming has evolved into more than pure entertainment. It’s now a dynamic canvas for culture. It can breathe life into ancestral knowledge, preserve endangered languages, give form to lived experiences, and become a vessel for empathy and understanding. A new generation of Indigenous creators are leveraging this canvas, not just to tell their stories, but to reshape how history is remembered and how futures are imagined.
Through games, indigenous creators are reclaiming the narrative; telling stories of survival, resilience, joy and identity rooted in tradition and grounded in truth. When Indigenous creators make games that reflect their cultures, these games become vessels for continuity, remembrance, and self-determination – and, from those playing them, new understanding.
This year, in honor of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Xbox is proud to spotlight Indigenous voices reshaping the world of interactive storytelling. Among them is Anthony Brave, a Sicangu Oyate (Rosebud Sioux Tribe) and Chippewa-Cree descendant, who served as the lead cultural expert on Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition.
Anthony helped ensure Indigenous representation in the game was accurate, nuanced, and deeply respectful. He also penned ‘Shadow’, the second act in The War Chiefs storyline, an emotionally rich campaign told through the perspective of an Indigenous protagonist navigating the complexities of identity, survival, and legacy.
As a consultant, writer, and cultural ambassador, Anthony’s work exemplifies what’s possible when Indigenous creators are empowered to tell their own stories. Through his voice, and those of other creators featured in our curated collection of games by and about Indigenous communities, we see a new standard emerging, one where consultation is expected, and cultural respect is foundational.
When history gets a new perspective directly from the source, everyone benefits. These stories do more than entertain; they teach, challenge, and inspire. They remind us that tradition is not stuck in the past. It is active, evolving, and ready to shape the future.
Join us in celebrating Indigenous creators, honoring their contributions to gaming, and supporting a more thoughtful and truthful way of telling stories today and for generations to come.
PLAY
Discover Games Shaped by Indigenous Communities
Celebrate International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples through the power of play. During August and beyond, you can play a variety of game collections highlighting iconic games and franchises created by Indigenous developers, showcasing how their unique perspectives have shaped the gaming world we know today.
Check out a few highlights from our full Xbox Games Collection celebrating International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples:
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition completes the celebration of one of the most beloved real-time strategy franchises in definitive form, with enhanced features and modernized gameplay. Command mighty civilizations from across Europe and the Americas or jump to the battlefields of Asia in stunning 4K Ultra HD graphics and with a fully remastered soundtrack. Now featuring two new game modes: Co-Op Historical Battles and The Art of War Challenge Missions, including all previously released expansions and all 14 civilizations, plus two brand new civilizations – the Swedes and Inca.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
A story-driven action-adventure set in a charming world rich with exploration and fast-paced combat. Players find and grow a team of tiny spirit companions called the Rot, enhancing their abilities and creating new ways to manipulate the environment. Kena, a young Spirit Guide, travels to an abandoned village in search of the sacred mountain shrine. She struggles to uncover the secrets of this forgotten community hidden in an overgrown forest where wandering spirits are trapped.
Aztech: Forgotten Gods
A cyber-stone action-adventure following Achtli, a
young woman who battles the colossal Forgotten Gods. To uncover the truth behind her far-future Mesoamerican metropolis, she’ll have to turn the Gods’ power against them, as she soars through the city with power and grace using an ancient artifact, remnant of a time long forgotten.
Carto
A charming adventure game wrapped around a unique, world-altering puzzle mechanic. Separated from her Granny during a storm, young Carto must use her innate cartography powers to map and manipulate the world around her on her quest to be reunited. As she discovers new “pieces” of the game map, players can rearrange them to shape the levels themselves – unlocking new paths, puzzles, and story moments. Use this power to explore mysterious lands, help a quirky cast of characters, and guide Carto on her journey back to her family. Carto will traverse strange new lands, learn their cultures, and enlist the help of new friends along the way in this hand-crafted adventure.
Aritana and the Harpy’s Feather
“At the sunrise, it will be too late…” Run against time in a platform adventure with a unique poster changing mechanic – each one changing your attributes like speed, jumps, attacks and special abilities. Choose the right posture to get over obstacles and fight spirits from the forest in a fast, intuitive and fun game. All the while, the beast Mapinguari will chase you, leading to battles that require focus and mastery of all the skills
learned.
GIVE
Gaming with Impact
Rewards members in the United States can earn and donate points to organizations supporting indigenous communities with Xbox. The organizations below will be available on the Rewards hub:
- AISES: AISES is a national nonprofit organization focused on substantially increasing the representation of Indigenous peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) studies and careers.
- First Nations Development Institute: Our mission is to uplift and sustain the lifeways and economies of Native communities through advocacy, financial support, and knowledge sharing. We envision a world in which Tribal Sovereignty is upheld, and Native ingenuity and knowledge are honored and respected.
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 International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 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.
The post History Reclaimed, Futures Reimagined: Celebrating Indigenous Storytelling Through Games appeared first on Xbox Wire.
