Nearly Half of Gamers Make Eco-Friendly Choices After Playing Climate Change Games

According to a recent study by non-profit organization PlanetPlay, almost 50% of gamers have adopted more environmentally friendly habits after playing games that highlight climate change issues. The findings are based on the results of PlanetPlay's Play2Act survey, conducted in partnership with the United Nations Development Program. The survey involved 181,000 players from 189 countries and was integrated into 24 popular games, including Subway Surfers, Beatstar, Pokémon Go, and Avakin Life. In addition to the players, 20 game developers participated in the Play2Act Initiative, including notable companies such as Bandai Namco, Jagex, Lockwood, Niantic, Robvio, Tripledot, and Unity. The survey results show that 79% of respondents who played games with environmental content made at least one positive change in their behavior, while 34% made more eco-friendly consumption choices. 49% of players believe that video games can contribute to solving climate change or addressing environmental issues, with 55% stating that games can raise awareness about these issues. 52% of players think that games can educate them on how to take action to protect the environment. 24% of the surveyed players reported feeling hopeful after engaging with environmental game content, realizing that there are potential solutions to address climate change. The survey results will inform the Game Realising Effective and Affective Transformation project, funded by the European Union Horizon and UK Research Innovation groups. The participating game studios will utilize the survey data to promote sustainable practices and actions within the industry, while the UNDP will aggregate the results to better understand global opinions on climate and nature action. "Games have a unique ability to engage a large and diverse audience on environmental issues," said PlanetPlay CEO Rhea Loucas. "The fact that many players are adopting greener habits after engaging with environmental content is a powerful testament to the impact that games can have in shaping a more sustainable future." Cassie Flynn, UNDP's global director of climate change, added: "More needs to be done to raise awareness about the climate and nature crises. We must use every available tool to drive meaningful change, and this effort should involve all segments of society, including the private sector and the gaming industry. "The Play2Act initiative demonstrates the potential of games not only as entertainment tools but also as platforms for gathering insights and engaging with individuals, especially young people, on a large scale." Last month, PlanetPlay announced the appointment of three new ambassadors for its Make Green Moves campaign, including games industry veteran Ian Livingstone. The Make Green Moves campaign has raised $2.2 million to date, with all proceeds going towards funding environmental projects.