Video games, for the most part, don't aim to change the world, yet they can be extremely useful tools. According to a new study conducted by the non-profit organization PlanetPlay, it seems that when it comes to environmental issues, gamers have their say. Their Play2Act survey, conducted in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), reveals that nearly half of gamers who played games addressing climate issues changed their behavior to reduce their environmental impact.
The study, conducted among 181,000 gamers in 189 countries, used 24 popular games such as Subway Surfers, Pokémon Go and Avakin Life, incorporating more or less subtle messages on climate change. Result: 79% of participants said they had taken at least one positive action for the environment, and 34% had made more responsible consumption choices.
This is an encouraging turning point for an industry often criticized for its energy impact. Even more surprising, 24% of players say they felt “full of hope” after being exposed to “green” in-game content, realizing that there are concrete solutions to combat climate change.
Multiple actions already exist
PUND should be distinguished from UNEP, another initiative launched in 2020 which now brings together more than 40 studios, including Ubisoft and Supercell. In 2021, the actions carried out by the participating studios helped raise awareness of more than 130 million players about environmental issues. All of these actions together demonstrate the commitment of both players and studios to environmental issues, which are becoming an important topic in the field.
This study is part of the European GREAT (Game Realising Effective and Affective Transformation) project, which aims to explore the role of games as tools for awareness and societal transformation. Major studios like Bandai Namco, Niantic, and Unity have taken part in the initiative and will use the data collected to strengthen their environmental commitments.
With its Make Green Moves initiative, which has already raised $2.2 million to fund environmental projects, PlanetPlay confirms that gaming can also rhyme with engagement. There are still a few steps to take so that gamers, often stigmatized, can also become the heroes of a greener future, but this is already an intention found in most homes with Gen Z gamers for whom environmental issues are paramount.
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