See titles curated by LGBTQIA+ communities at Microsoft
LGBTQIA+ experiences transcend race, ethnicity, gender, ability, and more dimensions. Content that explores, celebrates, and engages these experiences not only connects LGBTQIA+ people, but educates others. Plus, when this content is created by community members, the world is further introduced to their diverse perspectives.
Microsoft celebrates Pride month and beyond with these carefully curated collections of games, movies, and TV shows. With the guidance of LGBTQIA+ communities at Microsoft, we’re highlighting 10 of their favorite titles.
See how we celebrate Pride and LGBTQIA+ communities year round.
GAMES
UNSIGHTED
Driven by the potential loss of consciousness, UNSIGHTED’s protagonist, Alma finds herself in a world ravished by a war with humans. As a sentient being, she is tasked with making do with what she finds to discover the key to her race’s survival. Throughout this postapocalyptic lesbian robot love story, players seek a myriad of secrets and upgrades while the life force of Alma and her friends dwindles. No pressure, right? UNSIGHTED is the creation of Tiani Pixel and Fernanda Dias, two Brazilian trans women who went against gaming‘s big budget machine to develop a highly re-playable adventure game featuring an endless landscape and solid storytelling paired with a sense of urgency.
Dead by Daylight Windows
Want to semi-experience the adrenaline rush of characters from your favorite horror films? Then, Dead by Daylight Windows is for you. In this “four against one” multiplayer game, you can choose to be one of 28 killers (original to the game or iconic villains). Or, if you want to beat the killer at his/her own game, you can choose to be one of four survivors tasked with obliterating the killer’s tour of death. As one of the most popular survivors, David King (the ruffian) has been called the first openly gay character in the series, with plans to showcase others as the many back stories continue to unfold in updates. With Dead by Daylight, you’ll have the weapons and the team to put that killer down for good. Don’t mess this up!
Bugsnax
Bugsnax, a first-person adventure game, appeals to your sense of wonder and discovery as you, a non-binary character, navigate a world of furry humanoids seeking the truth behind the disappearance of a disgraced explorer. The capture and find adventure also features an original theme song by British pop band, Kero Kero Bonito. With three key character couples, the game has been lauded for the inclusion of two LGBTQIA+ couples that weren’t treated as an afterthought. Rather, you’ll find the couples to be critical to the story, healthy and—most importantly—not rooted in pain.
Hades
The son of Hades, Zagreus, is trying to reach his mother, Persephone, on Mount Olympus, but must escape the Underworld first. Moving through a variety of rooms to make a grand escape, Hades, a hack and slash, dungeon crawler game, features several Olympians and Underworld residents. Zagreus (who the creators have described as either bisexual or pansexual) is often helped by other characters, with an option to develop romances with different NPC characters.
Haven
What do you get when two lovers escape to a lost planet to be together? A story about love, rebellion, and freedom in the middle of an unknown territory paired with an exciting journey. The storytelling of Haven hinges on relatability as the young couple cohabitate and build a life together by making a cozy home. Yet, you are left on the edge of your seat wondering if love truly conquers all as you fight off enemies at various turns. The third-person, role-playing game has also received praise for its Couples Update, which allows players to choose their mates, with options for same-gender coupling.
MOVIES and TV
The Matrix Resurrections
Directed, co-written, and produced Lily Wachowski, a trans woman, The Matrix Resurrections returns to tackle the mind-bending space that has come to be known as “The Matrix.” With the return of Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, the movie is set 60 years after “The Matrix Revolutions.” Neo lives a seemingly ordinary life but has trouble discerning the difference between reality and fantasy. However, he learns that Trinity is in trouble and, with a band of rebels, he fights to get her free. Many movie goers will be surprised to learn that the entire series is an allegory for the lives of trans people.
The Mitchells vs. The Machines
One of our worst fears comes true in The Mitchells vs. The Machines when everything with a computer chip comes alive within a global robot uprising. Every human is captured and ordered to be launched into space by a jilted robot named PAL. Is there hope for humanity? Yes. Well, maybe. In comes the world’s weirdest family, the Mitchells. In one last attempt to bond as a family, our fate lies in the hands of this family, their burnt orange station wagon, and quirky pug. This animated family film (Netflix) has also been lauded for its portrayal of an openly queer character.
Heartstopper
Boy meets boy in this coming-of-age tale about a young boy and his seemingly unattainable high school crush, a star rugby player. Based on the popular graphic novel of the same name, Heartstopper, brilliantly tackles the awkward teenage years, friendship, bullying and—of course—love. The show thoughtfully includes a variety of characters with LGBTQIA+ identities. The “will they, won’t they” romantic comedy adaptation of the graphic novel by Alice Oseman (she/they), who identifies as aromantic and asexual, went on to make the first volume the top-selling children’s bestseller in the United Kingdom in April. The series can be found exclusively on Netflix.
Sex Education
While Sex Education is grounded in the life of Otis, the teenage son of a sex therapist, it explores the wide range of intimacy issues of Otis, his classmates, school administrators, and parents. The show has been praised for its natural inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters, as well as its authentic portrayal of people with disabilities, cultural differences, parent-child relationships, and sexual abuse. This Netflix series stars Gillian Anderson, Asa Butterfield, and Ncuti Gatwa.
Good Trouble
Fans of “The Fosters,” which featured a family nurtured by an interracial lesbian couple that fostered children, will enjoy this spinoff. Good Trouble chronicles the lives of siblings Callie and Mariana in Los Angeles as they enter their next chapter as young adults. The drama showcases the trials and tribulations of cross-generational characters, while expanding on the backgrounds of characters they’ve grown to know and love. The show also seamlessly includes diverse LGBTQIA+ characters and scenarios. This Freeform series can also be found on Hulu.
Interested in more movies and TV shows by LGBTQIA+ creators, leads, education, history, and culture, plus family entertainment? Check out this Microsoft Movies & TV collection.