In a world dominated by male-centric gaming cultures, Coexist Gaming is carving out a unique space for diversity, inclusion, and community.
It is a tech and subscription-based brand and agency that’s redefining the gaming industry. It’s a place where creativity, technology, and community converge, offering a platform for gamers of all backgrounds to connect, collaborate, and thrive.
In this interview, founder and CEO Jaye “Letta J” Watts shares the inspiration behind Coexist Gaming, exploring how it differentiates itself from other platforms, and uncovering the innovative ways it’s empowering its community. She also discusses the company’s impressive growth and its ambitious vision for the future of gaming.
What inspired you to create Coexist Gaming?
I always say, that if you don’t like the world that you live in, it may be because you were meant to build a new one. I was inspired to create Coexist Gaming because I understood the need for inclusion, in yet another white male-dominated industry. I also knew how important representation was. If you can’t see it, [you feel like] you can’t be it.
While we are an inclusive brand and have a very diverse community, I wanted to highlight and prioritize the needs of people of color and women specifically by building safe spaces, providing access, and creating opportunities for those people. The gaming industry is the largest entertainment industry in the world; bigger than music, film, and traditional sports, combined. There was an opportunity for us to tap in, and finally leverage big business not just as consumers, but as the creators of the IP.
How does Coexist Gaming differentiate itself from other gaming communities and platforms?
Coexist Gaming is a tech and subscription-based brand and agency with a community powered by the economy, and we innovate through that. Our goal was to serve as the coaxial that would bridge the gaps. We critically analyze the gaming industry from a 360° perspective. As a result, we’ve built an ecosystem that is comprised of programming that facilitates collaboration between creative and technical minds, physical and digital worlds, and ultimately enables the worlds of music, gaming, and tech to coexist.
How did your diverse background as a Grammy-nominated recording artist, electrical engineer, and community builder influence your vision for the gaming lounge?
My cross-sections existed in all of these worlds and I was searching for ways to coexist with myself. Very rarely are the things that are part of one person’s journey, not in some way, connected to others. I am creative and technical, and I was tired of choosing which box I was supposed to fit in. Gaming uniquely affects more than 3 billion people across the planet.
I knew I wasn’t the only multifaceted, neurodivergent person, yearning for meaningful, significant connections. It was important to me to build a world where others would not have to choose a box or diminish their dopeness. We live in a society where (seemingly) those with many facets are (often) deemed unfocused and don’t always feel like they have a place to belong. I wanted uniqueness to be celebrated so I was compelled to build a world where it could be.
Can you elaborate on the educational and development opportunities Coexist Gaming offers to its members?
When I say we have a community power economy, what I mean is our ecosystem allows our members to contribute to the growth and expansion of the community. A lot of businesses will reach outside of their respective communities to bring in other perspectives.
We understand who our members in the community are comprised of, and we built a system that amplifies their voices. So, there are classes, workshops, seminars, panels, showcases, and so much more that our members can enjoy for free. It’s included in their membership.
To take it a step further, we encourage them to host events and monetize their followers, they generate income by offering their services, like being an audio engineer in our music studio, offering their photography or videography skills, editing, building games, providing music for games, DJing events and so forth.
The greatest opportunity Coexist members have, is they finally have both a place and an ecosystem, where their contribution and their voices truly matter and they directly affect a willing and engaged audience who shares their interests and passions.
What are some of the most memorable events or milestones Coexist Gaming has achieved since its inception?
I am really excited that we have accomplished some celebratory feats. We hosted the NBA 2K draft at our flagship location, we have built hundreds of video games and placed music in several games. Several of our members have received million-dollar publishing deals with big publishers, they received jobs with studios and formed their own. We have hosted internships and provided jobs for 100s of people. Even record deals have been secured because we have had over 5000 artists perform on our stages.
We are featured on two Netflix shows, have been in three commercials, have been highlighted on major platforms like Adweek, been nominated for and received awards. On a high level, last year, our experiential activation & production company was selected to produce the Genshin Impact Summer Festival at the Oculus Plaza at the World Trade Center.
This 2-day event saw over 20,000 people. We were so grateful to have hired hundreds of people and coordinated with the city to pull off this massive undertaking which celebrated gaming, and culture for the number one mobile game in the world. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge one of our biggest milestones thus far: growing from my Brooklyn duplex where the company started and scaling to three other multi-level residential townhouses and duplexes, all operating simultaneously.
One of my biggest undertakings was generating enough revenue to open up our first commercial location. We stepped foot into our current flagship lounge, the Coexist GameHouse located in Midtown NYC, without any outside or investor funding. It was no doubt one of the biggest challenges I had ever faced.
What is your vision for the future of gaming and how does Coexist Gaming fit into that picture?
We innovate by understanding the needs of Community and fulfilling those needs. I envision gaming revolutionizing the way businesses and consumers coexist across the globe, and am excited to be trailblazing those paths through the tech we are building.
Because it is important that we continue creating safe spaces that will incubate talent and produce valuable content that will continue to amplify voices across the world, we will be opening up multiple locations throughout the country and internationally.
by Tony O. Lawson
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The post From Console to Community: Coexist Gaming’s Vision for Inclusive Gaming appeared first on SHOPPE BLACK.
