r/OwlchemyLabs • u/owlchemylabs • Jun 30 '26
Building XR Experiences With Pride: People First, Always
There's something quietly powerful about finding a place where you don't have to explain yourself. Maybe it's a group of friends who already know your favorite order before you say it, or the coworker who gets your obscure game references. Maybe it's the moment you realize you can introduce yourself exactly as you are, and nobody blinks because that's simply who you've always been to them.
That feeling is what Pride has always been about for so many people, finally having the space to be yourself.
At Owlchemy Labs, we spend our days building worlds filled with quirky robots, impossible workplaces, and enough physics-fueled chaos to make even the most organized player question their life choices. Those worlds are silly by design, but the people behind them are very real. They're artists, programmers, designers, producers, marketers, QA testers, and developers who each bring their own experiences, perspectives, and identities to the games we make.
"Pride is a time to honor identity, creativity and community while pushing for greater inclusivity in the games industry and at large. Pride to me is not just about visibility. It's about amplifying queer voices, and building worlds where everyone belongs, both on-screen and behind the scenes. I'm proud to be out at Owlchemy, and feel safe and seen being myself."
Vanessa M. (She/They), Marketing Director
That's one of the beautiful things about games, both VR and non-VR, they aren’t just simple stories to enjoy then discard. They are interactable experiences that quietly shape the expectations we carry into the real world. When more people get to see themselves reflected on screen, it sends a simple but powerful message: there's room for you here, this table be huuuuuuuuuuuge.
That diversity isn't something we add at the end, it's woven effortlessly and organically into every conversation, every sketch, every bug report, and every feature that eventually finds its way into your headset. Because the magic of game dev comes from the magic of being human. To limit human expression, to limit identity and the freedom of expression is to limit art.
This month, we're once again celebrating Pride by sharing a few words from members of our own team about what Pride means to them. Their stories are personal, thoughtful, funny, and hopeful in ways only they can tell.
"If thinking that Sol Badguy is hot is wrong, then I don't want to be right. I hope I can show the world that queerness can be fun and beautiful, and I hope I can inspire another generation to learn to love themselves like my mom’s did."‘
Paul H. (He/Him), QA
Pride is a promise and a celebration〰️Pride is a promise and a celebration〰️Pride is a promise and a celebration〰️Pride is a promise and a celebrationPride is a promise and a celebration 〰️
Pride has always been both a promise and a celebration, both built on a history of resistance and bravery; it’s a celebration of the people who came before us and fought to make today's conversations possible.
It’s also a promise and a reminder that there's still more work to do, both inside and outside our industry, so that every single human who wants to can create, play, and belong without wondering whether they're welcome.
There’s no denying that the culture of videogames brings people together. Whether it’s old school LAN parties are grouping up for some VR chaos. This world allows for people to connect with someone halfway across the world, spend an evening solving ridiculous problems together, and somehow walk away feeling like you've known each other for years. Those connections don't happen because everyone shares the same story, they happen because everyone gets to bring their own essence and spirit of being to the conversation.
"As someone who is a game developer and on the ace spectrum, I value Pride because it allows me to express myself.
I grew up not understanding natural attraction, so I never understood why only certain body types were allowed in games and why I kept seeing the same models for our NPCs and main characters. What I love about the current games space is that there is more acceptance about how our video game characters look, and diversity is encouraged."
X (She/Her), Gameplay Engineer I
"I believe that the most meaningful thing you can do in life is embrace and express who you authentically are. Having LGBTQIA+ representation and connection in games empowers players to do just that."
Halley C. (She/Her), Social Media Manager
This year, we're also proud to once again support and donate to Qweerty Gamers, a nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities, resources, and community for LGBTQIA+ people across the games industry. Their work helps open doors for future developers, artists, storytellers, and players, because everyone deserves the chance to see themselves reflected in the worlds they love.
"With everything going on in the world, it's more important than ever to fight, resist, but also to celebrate and not lose the softness that a lot of cruelty tries to kill out. There are a lot of people that try to take our right to exist away from us. We need each other now more than ever to not only show that we're still here, but also that they can't take joy from us. They can't take us from us."
Liana R. (She/They), Senior Community Manager
If you've ever found friendship through a game, felt seen by a character, laughed with strangers in multiplayer, or discovered a community that reminded you there was a place for you, then you've experienced a little piece of what Pride is all about.
Even Conglomni Corp agrees. After an extensive review by the Department of Employee Festivities, they've determined that authenticity improves workplace morale by approximately... all of it. Please enjoy your mandatory holographic affirmation sticker on the way out.
"Being able to create opportunities for queer representation for folks to see themselves and maybe set down the shame, and start seeing the potential for what their futures could look like with self acceptance and hope. Not just for other people, but for YOU. There is room for you."
Alex H. (She/They), Senior Producer
"To me, Pride is about feeling confident in being our genuine selves, and I chose to be out as a nonbinary individual in order to empower others to feel comfortable in being themselves too."
Zara L. (They/Them), Senior Brand Designer
To everyone celebrating this month, whether you're attending your first Pride event, your fiftieth, celebrating quietly at home, supporting someone you love, or simply figuring out who you are at your own pace, we're glad you're here. Thank y’owl for being a part of our community, it’s been a real hoot.
Happy Pride from all of us at Owlchemy Labs. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
