Black creators have contributed to the games industry in all kinds of ways, from developing early console technology to creating games, mechanics and characters recognised around the world.
For Black History Month, we’re looking at some of the people behind those contributions, their work and the part they’ve played in the past, present and future of games.
Jerry Lawson– helped pioneer interchangeable game cartridges
An engineer and self-taught programmer, Jerry Lawson led the team behind the Fairchild Channel F, released in 1976. Unlike many earlier home consoles, which had games built into the machine, the Channel F could play different games stored on interchangeable cartridges.
This helped establish a model that would later become standard across home consoles. The system also included a pause function and distinctive hand controllers designed by Lawson. He later founded VideoSoft, becoming one of the first Black entrepreneurs to establish a video game development company.
Did you know? An original Fairchild Channel F is held in the collection of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington.
Muriel Tramis – brought Caribbean history into video games
Martinique-born Muriel Tramis began her career as an engineer before joining French developer Coktel Vision in 1986 and moving into game design. Her first game, Méwilo, was developed with Martinican writer Patrick Chamoiseau. Set in Martinique, it drew on the island’s history and explored themes including slavery and colonialism.
Tramis continued to bring Caribbean history and culture into her work with games including Freedom: Rebels in the Darkness, which put players in the role of enslaved people planning a rebellion. She went on to work on a wide range of titles and is recognised as one of the earliest Black women to work professionally in game design.
Did you know? Before moving into games, Tramis worked as an engineer on military drone technology.
Mike Pondsmith – created the Cyberpunk universe
Before Cyberpunk 2077 became a major video game, Cyberpunk started out as a tabletop role-playing game created by Mike Pondsmith.
Pondsmith released the original game through his company, R. Talsorian Games, in 1988. Set in a dystopian future shaped by advanced technology, powerful corporations and body modification, it grew into a series of tabletop games with its own detailed world, characters and history. That world later became the basis for CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077, with Pondsmith working with the studio as his creation was adapted for video games.
Did you know? Pondsmith also appears in Cyberpunk 2077 as the voice of Maximum Mike, a radio host you can hear around Night City.
Danielle “Ebonix” Udogaranya – improved Black representation in The Sims
Danielle “Ebonix” Udogaranya started creating content for The Sims 4 after noticing that the game didn’t give her the options she needed to properly recreate herself. She taught herself 3D modelling and began creating custom content for Black players, including hairstyles and other character customisation options.
Her work caught the attention of Electronic Arts and Maxis. Ebonix went on to collaborate with The Sims team on improving representation in the game, including work around hairstyles and skin tones. She has since continued working with the franchise, including collaborating with EA on the official The Sims 4 Urban Homage Kit.
Did you know? The Urban Homage Kit was inspired by London fashion and Black culture from the 1990s and 2000s.
Adam Campbell and Chella Ramanan – People of Colour in Play
Adam Campbell and Chella Ramanan co-founded POC in Play in 2019 to improve representation and opportunities for people of colour working in the UK games industry.
The organisation works across areas including recruitment, career development, networking and industry support, helping people build careers in games while working with companies to improve inclusion.
Both founders came to the organisation with experience in the industry. Campbell has worked with companies including SEGA, Jagex and Miniclip, while Ramanan has worked across games journalism and narrative design.
Find out more: POC in Play runs events, programmes and other initiatives for people working in or looking to enter the UK games industry.