Nearly half of the players are opting for environmentally friendly decisions while engaging with games that focus on climate change

A recent survey by PlanetPlay, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program, reveals that nearly half of gamers have taken steps to minimize their environmental footprint after engaging with games that address climate change issues.

The Play2Act survey included responses from 181,000 players across 189 nations, collected from 24 different games such as Subway Surfers, Beatstar, Pokémon Go, and Avakin Life. This initiative saw participation from 20 developers, including well-known names like Bandai Namco, Jagext, Lockwood, Niantic, Robvio, Tripledot, and Unity.

The findings show that 79% of players who engaged with games containing environmental themes have made "at least one positive behavioral change," with 34% choosing more eco-friendly consumption options. Additionally, 49% of participants believe that video games can contribute to solving environmental challenges, with 55% stating that these games raise awareness and 52% indicating that they educate on actionable measures.

Notably, 24% of respondents expressed a sense of hope after experiencing green-themed games, becoming aware of potential climate solutions. Insights from the survey will inform the Game Realising Effective and Affective Transformation project, backed by the European Union Horizon and UK Research Innovation agencies.

The involved studios plan to utilize the data to "foster industry-wide environmental actions," while the UNDP aims to "leverage the findings to enhance understanding of global perspectives on climate and environmental issues."

Rhea Loucas, CEO of PlanetPlay, stated, "Games have a unique capacity to engage a wide and varied demographic on ecological matters. The behavioral shifts toward sustainability among players highlight the significant role games can play in advancing this cause."

Cassie Flynn, the UNDP's global climate change director, emphasized, "Greater efforts are needed to increase awareness about climate and nature challenges. Utilizing all available resources, including the involvement of the private sector and gaming industry, is crucial for driving substantial progress."

"The Play2Act initiative underscores games as not just a source of entertainment, but as a tool for gathering valuable insights and engaging extensively with individuals, particularly the youth," Flynn added.

In a recent announcement, PlanetPlay named three new ambassadors for its Make Green Moves campaign, including industry icon Ian Livingstone. The campaign has so far accumulated $2.2 million, with all proceeds supporting environmental initiatives.