XPerience Studios Announces Showcase Date, XP Grant Recipients, 2025 Freshman Class, and Industry Partnerships
Berkeley, CA – January 27, 2026 – XPerience Studios, the nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing equity in the video game industry, today announces the return of the Black Voices in Gaming Showcase, set to take place on February 19 at 12 p.m. PST on the BVIG Twitch channel and co-streamed on IGN and GameSpot. The upcoming showcase will spotlight games created by Black developers from around the world, while continuing XPerience Studios’ mission to build sustainable pathways for underrepresented creators.
Alongside the showcase announcement, XPerience Studios revealed major program updates, including the latest XP Grant recipients, the Black Voices in Gaming 2025 Freshman Class, and a new sponsorship tied to BVIG’s partnership with the Indie Game Awards.
XP Grant Recipients Announced
As part of its ongoing commitment to providing capital access for underrepresented developers, XPerience Studios announced two new recipients of its XP Grants, which provide financial support alongside mentorship and industry guidance.
Jerron Jacques – Awarded for his upcoming project Erased, a dark, psychological thriller where teens uncover the truth after their memories were erased
NuChallenger – Led by Shawn Alexander Allen, awarded for upcoming title Beatdown City Survivors
The XP Grants are designed to help developers move critical projects forward while navigating an industry where access to funding has become increasingly difficult.
Black Voices in Gaming 2025 Freshman Class
XPerience Studios also unveiled the Black Voices in Gaming 2025 Freshman Class, a curated group of emerging developers and studios selected for their creative vision, innovation, and potential impact. The Freshman Class represents the next wave of Black talent in games and will receive increased visibility, mentorship opportunities, and access to XPerience Studios’ broader ecosystem of support.
- Aerial_Knight – Never Yield
- CryoGX – Advent NEON
- Dallience Studios – YASUKE: A Lost Descendant
- Fer Factor – Toss Down
- Indigo Doyle – Roller Girl
- Kaizen Creed – 5 Force Fighters
- NuChallenger – Beatdown City Survivors
- Pancake Game Studios – Slime Heroes
- Stormy Nights Interactive LLC – Breeze in the Clouds
- Strange Scaffold – El Paso, Elsewhere
Black Voices in Gaming at D.I.C.E. Summit
XPerience Studios announced that all nominees of the Black Voices in Gaming Award from the 2025 Indie Game Awards will receive complimentary passes to the D.I.C.E. Awards 2026. The sponsorship aims to connect Black developers directly with one of the industry’s most influential gatherings, fostering meaningful networking and long-term career opportunities.
“This marks our five year anniversary developing a nonprofit to elevate Black professional developers in multiple dimensions with a network of enthusiastic veterans in the video game industry,” says Justin Woodward, co-founder of XPerience Studios. “We have had the honor of working with and partnering with larger publishers and developers such as Riot, Netflix, Microsoft, PlayStation, Humble Games, and more in order to work on making an impact in the industry, with the challenges in the world and in particular where we live. It is important that we keep the movement going in 2026 with more opportunities and set higher goals to help out the culture of gaming and game development.”
For more information, visit https://www.blackvoicesingaming.com
About Black Voices in Gaming
Launched to address the lack of visibility for Black creators in the video game industry, the Black Voices in Gaming Showcase is a curated digital event highlighting games at various stages of development, from early concepts to near-launch titles. The showcase connects developers with players, press, publishers, and investors worldwide, while celebrating creativity, culture, and innovation in games.
More than a standalone event, the showcase serves as a cornerstone of XPerience Studios’ year-round efforts, working in tandem with funding initiatives, accelerators, and educational programs to create a continuous pipeline from discovery to sustainability.
About XPerience Studios
XPerience Studios is a nonprofit organization focused on advancing equity in the video game industry by supporting underrepresented developers through funding, education, mentorship, and access to industry networks. By addressing systemic barriers to opportunity, XPerience Studios works to ensure creators not only enter the industry, but thrive within it.
