Xbox Game Studios is going all-in during Pride Month this year with a number of deals and partnerships to support the LGBTQ+ community. One of the highlights is making Tell Me Why, the critically acclaimed decision-making narrative game about twins dealing with their childhood trauma, free for June. The game is available to download on Xbox consoles, Windows PC through Xbox or Steam, and with Xbox Game Pass.
Tell Me Why, developed by Don’t Nod Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios, follows twins Tyler and Alyson as they return to their Alaska hometown to decipher their childhood memories and determine what caused their mother’s death. The game features a supernatural twist, with the twins having a psychic bond and being able to view memories by interacting with objects.
Tell Me Why received a lot of attention upon its release in 2020 for its depiction of LGBTQ+ themes. Tyler is a transgender man, and a lot of the flashbacks and revelations deal with his family’s response and intentions. Despite there being a lot of trauma in his backstory, the game handles it sensitively, rarely resorting to transphobia as a plot device. The developers also consulted with transgender people, including Tyler’s voice actor, August Black, to craft the character.
Outside the game itself, Don’t Nod and Xbox Game Studios published an FAQ that delves into questions potential players might have about the LGBTQ+ elements in the story, along with details on how it portrays indigenous people. It’s a great game to try this month, even if you don’t typically play video games. It’s relatively short — only around 10 hours — and its gameplay is easy to navigate. You play as both twins, and mostly walk around, talk with other people, and make decisions through dialogue. There are multiple endings, so it can be replayed.
In addition to making Tell Me Why free, Xbox has also announced a partnership with the Trevor Project, a well-known nonprofit that provides resources for LGBTQ+ young adults and teens. Xbox will also have collections in the store featuring curated games with LGBTQ+ representation, like Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical, and The Quarry. Xbox games like Forza Horizon 5 and Overwatch 2 will also have some in-game cosmetics and a limited-time map, respectively.
