Xbox Announces “Project Amplify” to Support Young Black People Seeking Careers in the Gaming Industry

A new initiative has been announced by Xbox, known as “Project Amplify”.

This project was launched as part of National Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Week in the United States. It consists of a “video series that aims to magnify black voices within Xbox to inspire, educate and motivate young people across the United States to aspire to careers in the gaming industry through the real-life storytelling of black executives and employees in the Xbox ecosystem.”

It sees fourteen Black Xbox employees offering advice to others looking to enter the industry. Each will share insight into their work and reveal some of their career highlights.

“This video series is meant to educate young people about the diversity of roles within the gaming industry, while also highlighting some of the black people who fill these roles on a daily basis,” Xbox explained. You can see a teaser for Project Amplify below.

One of those sharing their story as part of this initiative is James Lewis, Senior Director of Business Development at Xbox.

“In my early years, I was more focused on what not to do than what I could be,” he said. “It wasn’t until adulthood that I learned how to leverage my passion for games into a career. I’m now incredibly grateful to be celebrating 10+ years of my dream career and hope that Project Amplify will inspire people to dream and act towards their own goals. As my coaches and mentors would say, “play to win instead of play not to lose”.

On top of that, Xbox has partnered with the 2022 Revolt Summit x AT&T to host a two-day event that begins tomorrow (September 24). With this event, Xbox hopes to “reach students and gaming enthusiasts through on-site industry panels and networking opportunities with members of Xbox’s black communities.”

You can find more details about Project Amplify, including a variety of resources, via Xbox.