Introducing the bard As you read this, you may want to put on some tunes. This season’s theme is The Bard. Space Cat is going to take a cat nap while our new dog friend enters the scene. A selection of our activities this season will reflect this musical theme. Visit the Missions page for opportunities to unlock XP while participating in the Xbox Ambassador and wider gaming community, such as celebrating Hispanic and Latin Heritage Month. #XAInktober challenge Last year, we had our first #XAInktober challenge. This year, we’re bringing it back and hope to see even more of you join in the fun ..read more

What is Art? In 1865, the French painter Edouard Manet first exhibited his painting, Olympia, in the Paris Salon. Olympia, which depicts a nude woman being brought flowers while lying on her bed, caused immediate public outrage. The painting was viciously condemned by art critics and the larger public, with the frenzy reaching a fever pitch when one viewer attempted to slash the canvas. Interestingly, the reason for the painting’s scandal was less the subject matter than its artistic style. In contrast to the time period, which emphasized realism and an accurate portrayal of subject matter, Ma ..read more

Some of my most enduring childhood memories involve watching my older brother and sister play videogames on an old Super Nintendo in our shared bedroom. At the time, console gaming was still in its infancy, and most of the games of the time were relatively simple and unsophisticated. Side scrolling adventures, 2D fighters, and basic shooting games were the norm, with most of the games only a minor step up from the local arcade. Then I saw them play Chrono Trigger. First released in 1995, Chrono Trigger was universally considered one of the greatest video games of its time, and acclaimed for it ..read more

Hey Ambassadors! I’m NerdyBirdy. So much of my childhood and young adult years were shaped by gaming. I can still remember watching my older brother playing 16-bit RPG’s on a Super Nintendo, or eagerly awaiting the release of the first Xbox with my friends in Middle School. As a kid, gaming was my safe space. A place I could turn to without fear of rejection or bullying. It was something I could do with friends or on my own. When gaming moved into the open world of the internet, I saw this community grow global and more immersive. But I also saw how much of the toxicity of online interactions ..read more

Hey, happy Hispanic Heritage Month! Highlighting and amplifying community voices is core to the Xbox Ambassadors community, so in celebration, we asked those who identify as Hispanic/Latino how games with diverse representation have impacted them and to share their own stories about being a member of the Hispanic/Latino gaming community. We received hundreds of responses, and with much consideration, selected the following to share. Here are their stories in their own words: ChampGG1 Panamanian/Puerto Rican  It’s always a welcoming feeling when I see a Hispanic/Latino chara ..read more

Xbox Ambassadors, put your hands together MTA Raylz! You’ll probably recognize him from the many positive interactions he has had with other members of the community, over many years and across many platforms. He’s a friendly force in the program, a public transit enthusiast, and the newest Ambassador of the Month + Community Champion! Read on below to learn more about him and his many contributions to this community over the years. How did gaming become one of your passions? Gaming became one of my passions from my dad, he got me my first home console at the age of 4 in 1994 a Super Nintendo ..read more

Happy Hispanic & Latin Heritage Month!  Hey, Ambassadors (and thinking-about-being-Ambassadors)! Are you wondering how you can get involved for Hispanic & Latin Heritage Month? Check out the XA Missions page to get started. We are featuring members of our community who also belong to Hispanic and/or Latin communities. Plus, we will have special streams on the XA Twitch channel and sweepstakes for games that have Hispanic or Latin characters or developers. You can also play some games on your own, and share your thoughts with us in September’s first Co ..read more

Written by zatomas and ThorX360 Hey Xbox Ambassadors, we’ve got great news: we really believe that diversity in gaming also means promoting different genres and games. And this includes indie titles! We love indies. So this blog post will be the first of a series – #XAIndieLovers – focused on spotlighting the most interesting indie games available on Xbox Game Pass. Also, just in case you missed it, summer is here: heatwaves are hitting strongly, but there is something that can always keep us cool. Yes, “gaming” is the answer. And if you are an Xbox player then you are definitely lucky because ..read more

We’re halfway through our month-long Summer Games Party and we’ve got some more exciting streams coming up on our official Twitch channel! There are going to be giveaways, missions, and some fun interviews happening so you won’t want to miss out! Here’s what we have lined up so far: Streets of Rage 4 Host: Kiesey Special Guest: Cyrille Lagarigue, Lead Developer for Streets of Rage 4 and Co-Founder of Guard Crush Date/Time: August 18, 4:00pm-6:00pm Pacific Description from the Microsoft Store: Amongst the best beat’em up series ever created, jammin’ ‘90s beats and over the top street beating, t ..read more

This Saturday, August 21, Xbox Ambassador Community Champions will be hosting a virtual get-together for their fellow Ambassadors to join and enjoy. We’ve got a packed schedule of 4 different games lined up (all on Xbox Game Pass), with a variety of community hosts as well! Join your fellow Ambassadors for a community-led livestream on the Xbox Ambassadors Twitch channel. We’ll change the selected game and the community host up as the stream goes on. Some added bonuses: there will be a Mission for you to unlock XP during the event, and giveaways for Xbox Game Pass! The Details Who: You and ot ..read more