Google Play has detailed a new initiative called Change the Game that seeks to empower women creating and playing mobile games.
The company says that mobile games have been largely absent from larger conversations about gender diversity in the video game industry, prompting it to partner with the analytics firm Newzoo and form the Change the Game program.
The research gathered under the program offers game developers a look at the current state of gender diversity in mobile games as well as a snapshot of the people who play them. The full findings from that research can be found on the Change the Game website.
On its own side of things, Google Plays says that it will use the new initiative to promote diversity in and of games, celebrate the full spectrum of female players and experiences, and empower the next generation of game-makers through partnerships with organizations like Girls Make Games.
Additionally, Google Play has provided a developer checklist to give fellow game devs a few helpful ways to foster diversity, both within their games and their development teams. The list, which breaks down the conversation into knowing your audience, building more inclusive games, and growing a diverse team, can be found on Google Play’s website.