Published on 29 July 2024
We’re proactively demonstrating our commitment to the continent by promoting its rich culture in all its forms. We’re launching Cultural Avatars to make sure we do more to represent local communities in the content people see and watch. The booming video game sector in Africa and the Middle East owes much of its growth to players in these regions. To ensure that their cultures are showcased on screen, we offer a variety of skins, or avatars, so that gamers can choose the ones that best reflect them.
Inclusion is only possible when the media shows cultural diversity
This initiative aims to promote the cultural identity and traditional dress of African and Middle Eastern countries in video games and illustrates our desire to better promote often marginalized populations. We believe social progress is only possible when the various cultures that shape our world are represented in all of their diversity. To date, six avatars (three female, three male) have been created and integrated into world-class video games. “The Witcher”, “Sims 4”, and “Minecraft” are all examples of games where local fashions have been turned into video game attire. The first has incorporated the three male avatars while the other two allow you to play all six avatars.
How to download
THE WITCHER
Copy the folder in The Witcher 3 game folder /Mods/
Example : C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt GOTY\Mods\modMADA
THE SIMS 4
Open Sims 4 file into your documents
Open the “Mods” files
Paste the .package file here
MINECRAFT
Click on Minecraft : Java Edition then, Skins
Put a name, take “Large”, then search for the skin image in skin folder and upload the .png file from your file explorer
Highlighting future talent
To bring the avatars to life, we enlisted three young designers to collaborate and create culturally relevant attire: Yasmine El Tazi from North Africa and the Middle East, Ibrahim Fernandez from sub-Saharan Africa, and Marie-Laure Jaomatana from Madagascar. The fashions they designed for the various skins are now available to gamers.
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