come together, share insights and connect in safe spaces. Encouraging Diverse Creative Representation: Women in Games advocates for the fair and authentic representation of women in games, not just as players but as creators, developers, and leaders. Representation in character design, storytelling, and game development influences broader societal perceptions, making it crucial to challenge outdated gender norms. Supporting Education and Career Pathways: Our Education Ambassador Programme provides support to universities, training institutions and education providers around the world, helping them to encourage and support girls and women looking to embark on a career in games. In addition, our Individual Ambassadors actively work in their local areas, often working with schools and colleges to talk to girls about careers in games. Combating Toxicity and Harassment: The threat of toxicity and harassment towards women games workplaces and attending industry events, and women and girls playing in online games spaces is very real – and, sadly, not improving. When it comes to tackling issues in the workplace, our Corporate Ambassador Programme provides tangible advice and guidance to studios and other games companies on creating a safe and inclusive working environment. With online gaming spaces, and the shocking abuse that girls and women are subject to, we will continue to shout and amplify the reports of toxicity – until those in the industry who have the power to make change do just that… Building a Global Network: Women in Games has cultivated a thriving global community, bringing together individuals, industry stakeholders, and educators. The organisation has over 2,200 Individual Ambassadors in 79 countries, along with Corporate and Education Ambassador Programmes that align businesses and academic institutions with our mission. We are grateful for their engagement and vision in working with us to make games a better place for all women and girls.
Events: We host a series of events through the year, including our Annual Conference, the Careers, Development & Networking Expo, plus Monthly Social Gatherings. These events are all hosted online, meaning they are accessible for all – and they attract hundreds of women and allies. They are also mostly free to attend, as we want to
provide as many individuals around the world the opportunity to learn, connect and be inspired. In addition, at the likes of Develop:Brighton, Gamescom and Checkpoint in Rome, we host in-person networking events to further provide opportunities for our community to meet.
WHAT’S NEXT? Resources (we are a tiny team of just five part-time individuals at an operation level) and funding (increasingly hard to find in the current climate) are always a challenge for us. But we are keen to build on our core work with new campaigns and projects. Our initiatives for 2025 and beyond include:
GIRLS IN GAMES: SHAPING THE FUTURE One of WIG’s most crucial initiatives is our new Girls in Games (GIG) campaign, which aims to dismantle barriers preventing young girls from pursuing careers in gaming. While 85% of girls play video games regularly, many face systemic exclusion andbiases that discourage them from pursuing game-related careers. The Girls in Games campaign tackles these issues by working with
educators, industry leaders, and policymakers to ensure that gaming is a space where young women can thrive, innovate, and lead.
WOMEN IN GAMES VOICES: PRESERVING AND CELEBRATING CONTRIBUTIONS Recognising the importance of preserving history, Women in Games is also launching the Women in Games Voices initiative, which documents the experiences and achievements of women in the industry. By creating a digital archive, we are ensuring that future generations have access to role models and can see the tangible impact of women’s contributions to gaming.
THE WOMEN IN GAMES GUIDE SERIES: BUILDING AN EVEN FAIRER PLAYING FIELD Our Women in Games Guide: Building a Fair Playing Field was a major project which was published in 2022, translated intomultiple languages and distributed – to much acclaim - around the world. This year we will be updating the Guide as a series of standalone chapters (or ‘Spheres of Action’ as we call them) to address new challenges, guidance, legislation and more.
WANT TO GET INVOLVED? Women in Games welcomes supporters, sponsors, and advocates from all backgrounds. Whether you’re a developer, industry professional, educator, student, or collaborator, there are numerous ways to engage, learn, and contribute to the movement. By challenging existing norms and advocating for a fairer, more
inclusive industry, Women in Games is not just envisioning a better future for women, and those identifying as women, in gaming – we are actively building it. Whether through mentorship, policy advocacy, or creative empowerment, we remain committed to making gaming a playing field with equal opportunities for all. And we’d love for you to join us.
For more information, visit
www.womeningames.org and explore opportunities to join the global network working towards a more inclusive gaming industry.
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