The talent that Black women exhibit when given an opportunity in the video gaming industry has been game-changing. However, the level of representation doesn’t measure in comparison to how limitless they are. According to data from the International Game Developers Association, only 2% of game developers are Black, per CNBC.

Google is back with yet another heartfelt Google Doodle.

Much like the world as we know it, the gaming industry continues to evolve and soar to new heights. What was once the basis for mobile gaming has changed, thanks to Gen Z, and the money to follow is proof in the pudding. According to Vogue Business, the generation is partly responsible for helping to “boost the industry’s valuation to $222 billion this year,” and that number might not go down anytime soon. Another contributing factor to the 2.7 billion gamers who account for the top-grossing U.S. games is the influx of women gamers. They currently make up for a bulk of the consumer spending and are a part of the demographic helping to make the industry appeal to luxury brands.

For decades, Black people have been a force in the sports industry, yet when it comes to making a profit from the game, the coins are far and few unless we’re athletes. And, Kai Bond says it’s time we change that. Bond — a partner at Courtside VC, a company that focuses on sports, gaming, and fitness verticals — says the time is now when it comes to sports innovation that can lead to something huge for the culture. “Sports used to be a game, and now it’s culture,” said Bond during the latest Black Tech Green Money episode with host Will Lucas. “When you think about the power of sports in society, it’s one of the things that can bring us together; it’s one of the things that divide us. Sports figures, athletes, you see it today in social media, their influence is outsized, and you know the ‘shut up and dribble’ conversations that have happened. We’re talking about individuals who are transforming society at a faster pace; I would argue than politicians because they’re at the...

As the gaming community and industry continues to grow, the call for more inclusion of Black/POC/women characters and creators increases as well. According to a study published by Statista , women make up nearly 41 percent of U.S. gamers, while the International Gamers Developers Association reports that only 1 percent of individulas working in the game industry are Black. Even more so, racial representation in games is lacking as well as Black characters only comprised 10.7 percent of those observed in 150 of the most popular titles, according to a 2009 study reported by TechCrunch . In an effort to combat these low statistics, a Black mother decided to introduce her daughter to games that reflected what she looked like to help build up her self-confidence. Yvonne Oatley — founder of mobile gaming app Frobelles — developed the game alongside her daughter Alyssa, who helped design the characters and create elements for the game.   View this post on Instagram   Cute outfit Coco! ?...

Los Angeles-based video game company Riot Games is shedding light on the importance of representation in the workplace. The company, which is best known for some of the world’s most popular games like League of Legends and VALORANT, is also attempting to become the industry leader in diversity and inclusion (D&I). One way they’re doing so is providing a safe space for Black Rioters to come together and share their experiences in the gaming industry in a community-like environment through Riot Games’ Black ERG, Riot Noir. Members of Riot Noir spoke with AfroTech about how they entered the industry, their experience working with Riot, and their aspirations for the next generation of game developers. “As Black people, we spend so much of our day as the only one,” says Jahmeilah Roberson, Senior UX designer at Riot Games. “In gaming, on top of being the only Black person, I may be the only woman in a day’s worth of meetings. So, connecting with other people who understand the nuances of...

PlayVS, the startup bringing esports leagues to high schoolers, has raised $50 million in its Series C funding round. The Santa Monica-based company gained heavy traction last year when it raised $15 million and $30 million in consecutive funding rounds. Parents may see Fortnite, NBA 2K and other hit games as a distraction to their kids, but video games are opening opportunities for teenagers that previous generations can only imagine. At least 20 colleges and universities in the U.S. now have varsity esports teams and PlayVS wants to get high schoolers ready for the leagues. Institutions like Hampton University are also building out curriculums to offer esports as a concentration. The esports market is set to hit a market value of more than $1 million this year and companies like PlayVS could ensure that the industry is lucrative for years to come. PlayVS is a platform looking to regulate high school esports, providing structure to an otherwise loosely controlled gaming...

Retail giant Walmart is in talks of developing its own video game streaming service, according to reporting from US Gamer. The service is set to compete with Google’s latest streaming release, Stadia. Walmart has had an interesting history in attempting to build out its business with technology. In November, the company started using virtual reality headsets to train its employees. Walmart has also toyed with the idea of a video-streaming service but has since tabled its discussions, according to reports from CNBC. Walmart began focusing on Vudu, a video streaming property it acquired in 2010 after distancing itself from its other streaming plans. Walmart Labs — the Silicon Valley-based developer branch of the company — works to improve the company’s digital presence. Walmart has also constructed data centers in Missouri. Walmart’s former chief technology officer Jeremy King led the labs for eight years before moving to Pinterest to serve as head of engineering ahead of its IPO. As...