Sony recently announced a partnership with the Jackie Robinson Foundation, which will see $1 from sales of MLB The Show 21’s upcoming Collector’s Edition donated to the charity to “fund scholarships, with a strong focus on women of colour as they are the most underrepresented group in the gaming industry”. It’s now also revealed that in June 2020, it committed $1 million to “invest in and support organisations focused on social justice, education, and economic empowerment to address racial inequality”.
Moving forwards, the manufacturer has announced a partnership with four national charities, “dedicated to providing economic opportunities for black communities”. A blog post explains: “Our aim is to work with these partners to evoke long-lasting change by improving access to the tech and gaming industry and building a better structure for black voices to be heard.”
The charities – including Black Girls CODE, The Hidden Genius Project, Gameheads, and Black in Games – all have slightly different focuses, but they’re all committed to improving the representation of minority communities within both the games industry and the tech sector in general.
“These initial partners are part of SIE’s commitment to driving long-term change to achieve social justice and race equity, and we will share new strategic partnerships in the future,” the manufacturer said. “Beyond supporting these four organisations, SIE continues to engage, support, and celebrate the black community through our Black@PlayStation employee network – a community to empower employees and embrace diversity in an inclusive work environment.”
[source sie.com]
Comments 83
Disappointing that this needs to be written, but can I please stress before this comments section begins that you be thoughtful with your responses. Please report any comments that you have an issue with rather than engaging, and please allow us time to respond.
Thank you.
Good to hear people are being helped in some form or shape... I mean rage, rage, my opinion is superior to yours. Really hope that joke doesn't bear any truth for the following comments...
Very nice to see, Black Girls CODE especially does a lot of good work and I’ve seen the results first hand through people who wouldn’t be in the position they’re in without a little bit of encouragement. About 65% of my course is male, with about 10 to 15 black students. There’s so much more work to do encouraging people from all backgrounds to go into STEM so it’s nice to see Sony doing a little towards that.
Awesome! If it's coming from a genuine place and not just slimy corporate pandering then that's super cool!.... But I'm not buying MLB lol
Wokny i'll ok show myself out.... Keep political bs out of my games. Someone wake me When has a good exclusive out like Horizon and God of War.....
@TrueAssassin86x Please show yourself out. You recently contacted us about restoring your account under the stipulation that you wanted to make a positive impression on this community. We took you at your word, and welcomed you back.
This comment is not a good example of having a positive impact on the community, and I'd urge you to remember that if you have nothing engaging to say about the topic in question, you don't need to interact with it.
Good to see from Sony.
Just realised MLB is BLM spelled backwards. I’ve always been gifted like that 🤪
N.i.c.e one im black and i approves this a lot 🖤 word up King👑 sony
Great to see them now actually backing up wat they said with actions. Nothing but good from this kind of initiative.
From my brief surface level skim of the charities (thank you for the links), this sounds great! In building confidence, varying skills and a healthy entrepreneurial attitude and in providing poor communities with the equipment to realize their ambition, Sony are helping to provide youth with the tools absentee fathers and poverty never will. Only good can come from this.
Funding is always good, and it’s not like this funding is being taken from people who would have otherwise received it, so I hope this comment section doesn’t descend into some type of Eurogamer forum discussion. There is zero reason.
Now, with that said, I do always wonder what logic is used to decide that some group is “under-represented”. All to often it is, unfortunately, some useless percentage of total population calculation.
That's great news. Keep doing what you're doing Sony.
@thefourfoldroot I’ve come to realize that motive - the heart - is not for us to judge. The fact of the matter is that a lot of people who need to will benefit from initiatives like this. At that point, does the motive really matter?
@Jimmer-jammer Excellent point!👍
@get2sammyb dunno why you just don't perma ban @TrueAssassin86x you gave fair warning on the opening list but he still feels the need to comment bs.
Just to make his point.
After begging to have a previous ban removed.
Beggars belief.
Great move by Sony and hopefully this can make a real difference to people's lives and opportunities
@Jimmer-jammer
I think you meant to comment to someone else. I didn’t mention anything about motive or deserving. I was the one who said people would benefit and that was good, and wondered by what measurement they judge a certain group is “under-represented”, given free will and cultural influence, which is an interesting and useful subject of investigation.
@Playstation
All games arent political but I believe in freedom of expression in the Arts and creators, and publishers can push ideas they believe in like for any art.
People are of course free to support or not.
I do believe Sony is doing something cool here and sending the right signal.
@solocapers so its ok to attack someone that has a different opinion than you do? Thought attacking someone here was against the rules? Or is it ok to attack those you disagree with?
@solocapers
Lol yet you set here and comment. I see you been here since 2016 yet no picture. Alt account much anyways, I deleted my comment and moved on. I'll check back in if any worthwhile news is posted otherwise i'll just chill.
I think outreach programs are good for the people that really need them. I don't see it changing much, as people need to have an interest in things like this for it to help, but for that niche it'll be a boon for sure.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't benefit from some kind of program. This country (I'm from the US, and I imagine many others too) is hard on its people, and you need all the help you can get regardless of race or ethnicity.
@thefourfoldroot ha! You’re 100% correct and I have no idea how that happened. It was a friendly food for thought message meant for @Gmork___
Cheers!
@Playstation thanks for @ me i believe your one of the dudes on here I've been meaning to ignore see ya dude lol.
@Playstation Newsflash, "AlL gAmEs ArE pOlItIcAl" is just another soundbite bud.
It's just an opposing one. Games can be either political or apolitical or somewhere in between and that's alright.
Regardless, this article isn't about that anyway.
£70 tho
@TrueAssassin86x You don’t get to hide by deleting your comment, it will be restored every time you try to do so. Do better.
@Playstation rather the best human for the job got it not interested in the shade on the skin. can have 3 heads & have green skin for all I care just be good at the job.
Pretty sure the original Doom is completely apolitical - unless everything that happens is secretly the hallucinations of a communist Russian worker fighting his way through the bread queue or something . Or the hallucinations of a shopper trying to get a flat screen on Black Friday, way back when we used to physically go to places (cos capitalism is worthy of ridicule too). But sure, ever since games have been more narrative driven, they've been more political
With regards the OP - I can't stand sports games but I presume that enough people buy baseball games, that this could genuinely do some good.
@LiamCroft
Lol ok fine by me then it seems to have gotten two hearts anyways. I'll just move on anyways like i said. I'll stick around and chill.
@Playstation Super Mario Bros. is political? Wii Golfing? Tetris? Dark Souls? I’m in support of what Sony is doing but, how are ALL games political?
@get2sammyb I’m not certain we need to be this hard on the commenters of the site. I respect that the person may have misbehaved in the past, but it’s coming across like you’re trying to make an example of him....over a comments section?
If you were truly concerned over the content of incoming comments from the users, just disable the comments on this article. I don’t agree with naming and shaming people, though. He trespassed upon the site rules, it makes you guys look better when it’s handled privately.
Just my two cents, no hostility.
NINJA APPROVED
@BloodNinja https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2HNQ7ysT4MA
I want to weigh in here. Just because games don't have overt political tones, say like Bioshock, or have modern politically divisive notions, like the last of us 2, doesn't always mean that there isn't some undertones of politics.
It's hard for a creator to not lace their work with their own beliefs. Even if it's something silly like how to treat others.
@TrueAssassin86x I don't have a profile picture? Big deal, it's a site for checking news. Does a profile picture of crash bandicoot make me more legit? I'm afraid a profile pic is way down the list of things I care about.
@Snick27 people were warned if they weren't going to post anything nice then don't bother. That's why I called it out. Especially after a previous ban for god knows what.
@Richnj I disagree, in many cases people are able to separate their political beliefs from making a video game. I highly doubt that the creators of super Mario were lacing their beliefs into a game where you run right and touch a flag pole.
@BloodNinja They have someone as "lowly" as a plumber saving the kingdom.
Quite frankly, if you are separating yourself from all your beliefs to make a game, you're making a thematically shallow game. Your knowledge and understanding of the world is what informs your creative choices.
@Playstation Super mario bros.
Super Mario Golf
Dark Souls 1, 2, 3, Demon's Souls, Bloodborne.
Tetris.
Mega Man 11.
Sakura Clicker (lol)
Cyber Shadow
Bushiden
Shovel Knight
Ninja Gaiden (recent trilogy)
Mario 3d All Stars
Super mario Maker
Deathsmiles
Mushihimesama
Blaster master zero
Axiom Verge.
R-Type Dimensions
Street Fighter V.
@Richnj You're reading into that waaaaay too much. There's literally no depiction of class, it's literally run right, step on goombas and pick up coins. It's a fantasy. I said people can make a game and set aside POLITICAL beliefs, not ALL beliefs. Difference.
@Playstation Barack Obama probably disagrees with you, as does the CEO of Lowes. There are other examples, you should look into that. All those top execs at Sony Japan are probably not white, they are Japanese. I could go on, but you really should do the search yourself, to gain a better understanding of the world, at large.
@Playstation Dragonball FighterZ Bloodborne, Demon's Souls, Nioh 2, Fall Guys, Among Us, Monster Hunter World, DMC 5. Do you really want to keep saying all games have politics?
The collectors edition is $100, right? I wish it was more than just $1 of each sale being donated.
@BloodNinja so because they 2 got high up that means there's no discrimination?
Brilliant logic that.
@solocapers It's two examples of many, can't you see past that? I also spoke about things outside of a single country. These are world issues, not "west" issues. I started with 2 examples in the hopes that people like you would go searching for more, unless you are happy believing the lies you believe, right now. I never said there was "no discrimination." Stop being silly.
Please spare me your ire.
And please get an icon, it's like commenting with your pants down!
NINJA APPROVED
@Playstation I have, thanks. You're still heavily generalizing.
@BloodNinja Something being fantasy doesn't not exclude it from being political.
And it's funny you say I'm reading too much in to the game while mentioning games that most definitely have political value. Either in their hidden themes or the very political problems of society they are examples of.
@BloodNinja I love how me not having a profile pic is annoying folk today.
I've done plenty research thank you very much and I'm sure if you have also you'll know how many of the fortune 500 companies CEOs are non white?
Work that out as a percentage of population and you'll find it's massively skewed. Care to think why? Or is that just a "generalisation" that doesn't fit your frankly, stupid opinion.
Any game that has you as 'the good guy' trying to win could be painted as political.
Admiteddly its a bit of a stretch, but so is painting attempts to give equal rights to all as political, which certainly doesn't stop the people who don't want that from trying.
@Richnj It heavily excludes them from being political. Politics is reality-based, games are fantasy-based. Some try to depict reality, those games may have a political message. Many do not, by their own merit. You can ADD your own spin to it, doesn't make it true or right. Kinda cute to look at Mario framed in that perspective, but it's just not the truth.
@solocapers The profile pic is just a joke thing, I didn't mean anything serious by it, I should have put a lol.
#2 and #4 in the top 500 for are China based companies, by the way. Again, I'm pretty sure they are considered non-white.
I thought you said you did research?
Identity politics go much further than just the west.
@BloodNinja ok, if you're going to skirt around the question I'll answer it for you pal. 7 out of 10 CEOs are white.
4 out of the 500 are black.
I'm done with this thread but that's clearly skewed for a reason. I'll leave that reason up to you to imagine.
@solocapers I directly answered your question in post 59. Identity politics go far beyond who is black or white. There are tons of other people you are excluding by that mindset.
@Playstation ok i unblocked for two reasons one i miss took you for another commenter so my bad 2 you say AC 2 is political yet stop at 0:19 on this video to be proved wrong yet again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg5dScbTFn0
@TrueAssassin86x Assassin's Creed II contains plot points concerning the assassination of a ruling family in Florence, done via stirring up revolts and leading to a coup. You might want to replay the game if you don't think it's political, and the message you've linked to in that YouTube video means absolutely nothing.
@TrueAssassin86x I know for a fact that most games are fantasy-based nonsense, but AC games tend to have pretty heavy political themes, which is fine because they are emulating a time period.
I don't think a corporation funding under-privileged groups is a political thing. I can see why people might say it is, but I think it's largely a "look at us, we are doing a good thing for the community," thing. Is it for good PR, or are they sincere? Only the people that initiated the funding know for sure. I like to hope they are sincere, but even if they are doing it just for good press, it's still helping others, in the end.
Now in AC, the political aspects certainly added to the game, but I can understand when certain games contain blatant political messages that don't fit the nature of said game.
NINJA APPROVED
@LiamCroft Don’t forget the fact that it’s about the Vatican lying to the populace in order to get access to things like the Pieces of Eden and in almost every single AC game, the bad guys are all about controlling the masses through disinformation and propaganda. I honestly can’t think of a more political series 😂
So since we are attacking AC here how about this is there anything political in God Of War or Horzion Zero Dawn? I think i know the answer on this site though
lol people here need to just relax. Why so much arguing ? Go play a video game and drink a beer.
@kingv84 I do agree. Dunno why but in the recent weeks there seems to be quite a few toxic comments sections.. It’s just sad 😞
@TrueAssassin86x God of War is all about the power struggle between the ruling gods. So yes, that one's political.
Nice, they gonna release a strategic partnership to actually help out there Japanese devs?
@Playstation Yeah, the white supremist thing (for our last president) is entirely false and total propaganda. If you want to talk about research, then you might not want to say something that is obviously false and doesn't hold if you do any actual research beyond the fact that some people love to say it since people end up believing them. It's literally one of the most unsubstantiated and fake claims there is.
@TrueAssassin86x there isnt anything 'political' about either of those but theres bound to be some on here that sees something more than a really good story with something 'emotional'
@Playstation I can, but I thought ALL games were political?
Kind of disproves your soundbite if you then have to qualify it, no?
Here are a few "mainstream" games that are not political:
Smite
Valheim
Minecraft
Fortnite
I could go on.
@Jaz007 except it isn’t. Stop spreading lies and fake propaganda. It has been proven to be true, unless it is all “fake news”.
One last thing i didnt get banned on this account i asked for my account to be deleted. And now i remember why. and i see why so many have left this site before and after me. I dont think im gonna not bother to comment on news post for awhile enless its intresting or otherwise and I'll just ignore posts like this.
@mpquikster you're going to have to provide a bit more detail with that claim if you want anyone to take it seriously.
@sawaoyamanaka It hasn’t been proven at all. A bunch of strawman arguments and things taken out of context along with people saying it without any evidence does not prove something. You can’t will something to be true, only convince people by pretending it’s so obvious (when there’s no evidence to even start, which is exactly what happened. )
@mpquikster no it isn't. It'd probably take quite a lengthy text explaining the evidence. Something I assume you are capable of if you work in the exam/grade field.
@BloodNinja you might want to remove tetris from your list. There are few games that are more political.
@TrueAssassin86x You don't think you're going to not bother to comment? Meaning you're going to be a regular commentator on here?
Nice, good on Sony for this.
Just makes my heart smile even more to know that if Sony can see it and are making the steps to not only make a change and set the bar for gaming but also for humanity aside from the minds of ones who don't yet see the problems of the future for those of us who stand united against racial inequality from gaming to politics. I just to know that if we step outside of ourselves and into what we don't know and self educate and be determined and committed to be part of the change thats much needed we all can come together to be apart of something much larger and life-changing. To be able to tell our children that even in gaming and being a gamer you can make a difference with one press of a button within yourself and power on a new way of thinking and seeing the world in a way that will help change the future for all..and remember the Slogan for PS5... Play Has No Limits...And Neither Does True Love For The Better Cause and Purpose For Equality and How Far You Are Willing To Go To Give as well as Achieve It 😉
I mean politics aside it's good to invest in the next generation of game developers, who knows a bunch of these people may intern at Sony's young and hip studio Pixelopus haha
These types of things don’t excite me in any way. Maybe I’m a cynic but, it’s all optics IMO. 🤷🏾♂️ These corporations want to talk about supporting black communities, we’ll take a more hands on approach. People in power don’t care about black people, unless their apart of the LGBTQ community.
@get2sammyb so is there only one kind of comments allowed? the ones who that agrees with your opinions and politics? if anyone says anything that counters your ideology are not welcome, good to know.
@get2sammyb Hey, I normally go to ign, and when I visited here, I just use it as a shadow user, because I really wasn't sure how this community was towards poc. I saw your comment and it made me willing enough to create an account here. Thank you. P.S I'm chill.
@thefourfoldroot It's amazing how "politics" and "race" have become so intertwined that people do not know the difference between a charity donation and politics. Lol, like a company literally donates to a charity cause and it's automatically political. A lot of wealthy business do similar charity events and causes. How is this any different just because it includes providing more opportunities among one of the many minority groups that have been statically proven to have a systematic disadvantage when a individual is compared to a non-minority in the same position/status/education level? Yes, it does still exist to some degree.
@TrueAssassin86x how typical.
@HeathenFriar the irony is strong with this one.
@Jaz007 Trump is not a white supremacist IMO Biden has said some comments that would sound more on par with that.
I feel like people believe anything they hear now & do not research.
@Playstation
Sorry for replying a bit late because, well weekend 😀,. I believe all is in the intent. If the author says his game is NOT meant to convey a political message (or any other idea) then we have to respect that and not appropriate their work with our own views.
Even going to the toilet could be seen as conveying a political message by some people.
@David187
Its not about what they say but about what they empower.
In my eyes, a part of the US politics has become officially fascist anyway completely off topic 🙃
@JJ2 I hear that seems people want you to look different but don't dare think differently.
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