Black Gamers Exist
It has been over 50 years since the world’s first home video game console, the Magnavox Odyssey, was released in 1972. According to BCC, the Magnavox Odyssey was created by Ralph Baer, a German-American engineer, who had been playing with the idea of interactive television games since the 1960s. Baer, along with a small team, created multiple prototypes before releasing the Magnavox Odyssey.
In 2023, according to the International Trade Administration, the U.S. video game industry created and supported more than 350,000 total jobs, and it contributed nearly $66 billion to the U.S. GDP. The gaming industry’s impact is steadily growing, and Atlanta-based, Black-owned Cxmmunity Media is ensuring Black gamers and creatives are getting more than just a piece of the pie.
Since 2021, Cxmmunity Media has been pioneering the industry by providing spaces and opportunities for individuals who are often left out. Through its nonprofit arm, The Cxmmunity Foundation, which was founded in 2020, has directly given over $2 million to Black creatives.
Cxmmunity Media Founder and CEO Ryan Johnson, who recently finished the BOMESI Accelerator for Black-owned publishers, always saw a need for better representation in gaming, so he created it. Johnson said it’s empowering to have created a company that is a key voice for the gaming community.
“We look at gaming as a cultural movement,” said Johnson.
Now in 2025, Cxmmunity Media has signed a six-figure deal with Live Nation Urban, a division under Live Nation, the ticket promoter and venue operator. The investment is a part of Live Nation Urban’s capital investment fund supporting Black entrepreneurs in entertainment.
Over the years, Cxmmunity Media has been heavily focused on music and gaming, and with this new investment, they will be expanding their content. By being connected to Live Nation, Cxmmunity Media will have access to industry-popular events like Broccoli City Festival and One Music Fest, where they will be able to conduct exclusive interviews and content. Live Nation Urban will help Cxmmunity Media with marketing, which will increase event attendance. The investment will also help Cxmmunity Media secure top-tier talent and venues well in advance so they can better plan events.
Johnson said he told Live Nation, “All we need is your support, and we’ve got everything else.”
Cxmmunity Media has two major upcoming events: Atlanime on October 18, 2025, and The Kickback on December 10, 2025.
Behind the Founder
As an only child, Johnson had four things that brought him comfort: basketball, skateboarding, music, and video games. Outside of music, gaming helped him find a community where he was able to meet people from around the world.
Johnson’s favorite games are Halo, Battlefield, SKATE, and Call of Duty.
With little representation in the gaming field, Johnson dedicated his time to educating his community about the many career paths available in the industry. When he launched Cxmmunity, he admits he never imagined it would grow into what it is today; he simply wanted to help others who looked like him and shared his love for gaming.
“The vision for Cxmmunity at first…was what can we do to get people to know that jobs are available in gaming more than film and TV,” said Johnson.
With a degree in sports management, Johnson didn’t have a business background, but he did have Chris Peay, a friend and business partner. Peay is the co-founder of Cxmmunity Media, and together the two have been taking the gaming industry by storm.
Along with being invested in, Cxmmunity Media has invested in two Atlanta-based companies: Ghost Gaming and Trap Sushi.
In the next three to five years, Johnson hopes to spend his time creating a successful gaming studio. He stated that all the major games like Call of Duty are not owned by people of color, and he wants to change that.
He plans to make Cxmmunity as recognizable as BET and MTV.
