PlayStation is celebrating Pride 2021 with a wonderful selection of LGBTQ+ PS4 and PS5 games, a Pride playlist on Spotify, and a really fantastic PS4 theme. If you tell us about your favourite from the list, then we may feature your comment in future articles!
While the whole list of efforts Sony Interactive Entertainment is making for Pride 2021 is extensive, we will highlight the PlayStation-related ones for you. The curated list of games aims to "shine a light on LGBTQ+ characters, themes, and experiences." There are some fantastic games in here that you should not pass up, and if you have your own contribution, by all means, let us know down below! Life is Strange is exceptional and The Last of Us: Left Behind is essential reading for The Last of Us. While I am not quite certain if Outer Wilds is an obvious or direct celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, the touching written logs and the sensitive story literally rewrote how I interact with human beings in the real world. The game is in my top three of all time, so I now bequeath my want for everybody to play it to you, dear reader.
Community LGBTQ+ Picks
SolaceCreed: Mass Effect and Dragon Age, but I'm bias with them. They are awesome games without the romances even.
KGI_KlikoNL: The Ballad of Gay Tony (GTA 4 DLC). He is back in GTA Online! P.S. The theme in the picture feels better done than the one available in the store.
SilentJay76_: Most of the games seem pretty random to me. But of the ones that I've played and which would fit the subject, I'd have to pick "Life is Strange: Before the Storm," which I actually enjoyed more than the first game. (Although I'm probably in the minority).
Prem-aka-Prince: My recommendation, apart from the ones mentioned, would be
Gone Home. It dates back 8 years to 2013 so predates all of these I believe, apart from of course the early Mass Effects. It also explores the wider issues faced by the characters and doesn't hang on the point like a gimmick. It's a narrative adventure first and foremost, but features complex and interesting characters without prejudice or preference. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys the genre and is interested in these themes.
The theme featured above is free to download for everyone. The rainbow controller design looks remarkable, so shoutout to SIE for the design for PlayStation Pride 2021. The theme isn't directly available from the store, so here are the codes for it in each territory:
- Americas: GBX2-ELNK-R5KE
- Europe: XQF7-9JN4-3NQM
- Japan: CKDB-GDN3-637B
- Korea: PDJR-T6NH-B49Q
- Alternate Asian regions: DQM5-2LNC-T6KL
The Gayming Awards 2021 helped put together the list of games with Sony and had an awards ceremony of its own earlier in the year. Shoutout to the Spotify playlist as well, which enables you to listen to Under Pressure by Queen and Bowie while exploring the galaxy of Outer Wilds and trying to land on the Sun Station for the Hotshot trophy.
If you have any further suggestion for games or thoughts on the ones on Sony's curated list, leave a comment so I can feature some of your fine words in an article. Comments may also be used in a sales piece later! Get suggesting, folks!