Shaping a more equitable future with Women in Games

Although women have historically been underrepresented in the games industry, the global activists at Women in Games are striving to change that. CEO Marie-Claire Isaaman and Ambassador Director Gemma Johnson-Brown are creating programs and platforms to elevate and celebrate women playing and creating games.

Following their win of the Diversity Award at the TIGA Games Industry Awards in 2022, the Women in Games team continue to lead the way toward positive change in games.

Marie-Claire Isaaman: Celebrating women is central to my professional and personal interests.
It means reflecting on our history and being hopeful for the future. The women who came before us fought hard for social, political, economic, and cultural equity, and we must honor and continue that work. Despite great strides in art and gaming, there remains a “hidden” history of women’s contributions.

Gemma Johnson Brown: It’s about celebrating and reflecting on the inspiring women in my life, including over 1,170 individual Women in Games Ambassadors and their positive impact on the industry. It’s also a day to reflect on how women continue to be marginalized. As our mission evolves, hopefully we can strive beyond a level playing field and safe spaces and focus more on development and advancement.

Johnson-Brown: I’d recommend following our Women in Game Ambassadors and female game developers and designers on social media or joining online gaming communities. You can learn a lot from them and discover online resources about game design and development. But the best way to get into games is to start playing them! There are many different types of games available, so try out a few different genres to see what you like.

Isaaman: In our Women in Games Guide: Building a Fair Playing Field, we showcase individuals and studios going in the right direction. Some highlights are Animal Crossing New Horizons, which was found to be the most inclusive game to play, and The Sims series, which has a long history of pushing for diversity. We’re also seeing advances in sports games, like the women’s World Cup in FIFA 23.

Isaaman: Structural challenges mean that women have unequal starting points in work and play. Player spaces can be unnecessarily toxic for girls and women. More than 70% feel they must hide their identity when playing online to avoid harassment. To garner an equitable future we must continue to act against the societal issues holding us back, and that includes holding leaders accountable.

Johnson-Brown: I believe the future of gaming will include a broader range of perspectives. We need more diverse representation in characters, storylines, and development teams, and more inclusive and accessible gaming environments. If I didn’t believe this or I didn’t believe we could achieve it, I wouldn’t give so much effort, time, and thought into Women in Games.