Entertainment or threat—the paradox of gaming is becoming increasingly apparent. On one hand, the video game industry attracts millions of players worldwide and forms unique digital communities. On the other, this market, with an annual turnover of more than $160 billion, produces a colossal volume of emissions and energy consumption. However, against the backdrop of growing climate anxiety, the question increasingly arises: are video games and their audiences truly capable of influencing the planet’s future? It is this dilemma that is now becoming a focal point for scientists, environmentalists, and gamers themselves.
Video Games and Climate—the Industry Paradox
According to Newzoo, the global video game market exceeded $160 billion in 2023, making it the largest sector in the entertainment industry. The vast number of players, according to Pew Research Center, constitutes the majority of adult residents in the United States. Such scale inevitably impacts the environment: a 2019 study equated the combined carbon footprint of the gaming industry to the emissions of more than 5 million cars in the US. An analysis of household energy consumption in California showed that as much electricity is spent on computer games as on dishwashers and freezers combined.
This contrast between the enjoyment of games and their contribution to climate change has become the subject of public discussion. The entertainment industry faces a challenge: how to combine the pursuit of growth and profitability with increasing pressure to reduce negative environmental impact.
Gamers as New Climate Activists
Alongside the growth of the video game market, players’ interest in environmental issues is also increasing. The stereotype of gamers as passive and alienated members of society is gradually becoming a thing of the past. Modern research indicates that the gaming audience is becoming increasingly diverse.
Many young people, such as climate activist Amelia Southern-Uribe, find in games not only a way to escape the stresses of reality, but also a source of inspiration for action. Southern-Uribe notes that it is through games that a sense of control and the ability to make a difference emerges—something sorely lacking in a life influenced by global political and economic processes.
According to national surveys, there is a strong link between an interest in video games and a willingness to engage in collective climate activism. Even taking into account differences in age, political views, and attitudes toward global warming, gamers are more likely than others to express a desire to participate in environmental initiatives. Thus, a new generation of players is emerging for whom virtual achievements become a stepping stone to real-world action.
How Games Shape Environmental Thinking
What is the secret of this influence? Video games provide a unique platform for modeling alternative future scenarios and making complex decisions. Several academic works, including the article “Geeks versus climate change” (2023), demonstrate that games are becoming an effective channel for environmental education, especially for young people. Analytics from the Playing for the Planet Alliance showed that more than 80% of nearly 390,000 surveyed gamers would like to see environmental themes in games.
A study by YPCCC and Unity found that most players support the introduction of green storylines, and nearly two-thirds are willing to change their own habits for this reason. Moreover, experiments confirm that even short-term game missions with an environmental subtext increase the likelihood of stated intention to participate in “green” initiatives by 10%.
International Initiatives and Partnerships
These trends are being taken up by major international organizations. UN programs—UNEP and UNDP—are developing partnerships with gaming companies to promote the ideas of sustainable development through popular platforms. For example, the Playing for the Planet initiative unites dozens of studios around the goals of reducing negative impact and raising environmental awareness. As part of the annual Green Game Jam competition, more than $700,000 was raised for wildlife protection in 2023, and in 2024, they plan to engage over 1 million players and 80 projects.
The PlanetPlay project, positioning itself as a non-profit platform for promoting climate solutions, collects unique analytics on audience preferences and helps developers create truly engaging eco-projects. As PlanetPlay’s chief strategist Jude Ower notes, it is precisely such data that allows the industry to respond more accurately to the needs of players and target real change, rather than act at random.
Examples of Game Mechanics for Environmental Education
Modern game mechanics offer many formats for education and activation. The environmental strategy Terra Nil, developed by Free Lives, not only simulates the restoration of nature but also allocates part of its revenue to real biodiversity conservation programs. Developer Jonathan Hau-Yun emphasizes that a sense of personal contribution, even in the digital world, helps to cope with anxiety about environmental disasters.
Ubisoft organized the first virtual climate march in Riders Republic after participating in the Green Game Jam, and Pokémon Go, during the annual Sustainability Week, motivates players to go out and clean up parks. In 2023 alone, more than 3.4 million players participated in such actions.
Special attention should be paid to the mechanics of “green” assets: in-game purchases (coins, characters), part of the proceeds from which are directed to support eco-projects or the purchase of carbon credits. An example is the partnership between Subway Surfers and PlanetPlay, where funds from the sale of a limited-edition character were used to finance clean stoves for Kenya.
Problems and Limitations
Why, despite the enthusiasm and engagement, are real changes difficult to achieve? The main challenge is the lack of long-term data on how much gaming initiatives actually change behavior beyond the screen. Many scientists and activists note that the mechanics of “carbon credits” often give a false sense of compensation, without addressing the problem systematically.
There is a gap between players’ declarations and actual actions, and methods for assessing campaign effectiveness are still imperfect. Some experts and initiative creators point to the need for regular follow-up studies and direct questions about the impact of gaming on real life to better understand the mechanisms of transition from virtual intentions to tangible actions.
Responsibility of the Gaming Industry
What role is assigned to gamers and developers in this transformation? According to a joint survey by YPCCC and Unity in 2022, most players are confident that the industry itself should set standards for emission reduction and minimizing harm. Some companies are already moving from words to action. Microsoft, for example, has significantly reduced Xbox’s energy consumption per unit of performance, while independent studios (such as Known Mysteries) optimize graphics and video to reduce energy consumption when launching their games.
At the same time, there is growing interest in the implementation of renewable energy sources at all stages of production and support for gaming. PlanetPlay representatives acknowledge that audience demand for social responsibility is already influencing the development strategy of major gaming companies.
There is a high level of environmental responsibility among online games and the iGaming industry. According to melbet-apps.net, the Melbet mobile app and other top online casinos are very popular. All these apps contain thousands of games, which require an internet connection to operate. Active processing requires more data centers, which leads to increased energy consumption.
How Can Gamers Influence the Climate in the Future?
What opportunities are opening up for players? According to experts, the next level of interaction is the integration of virtual and real-world initiatives. Gamers are encouraged not only to choose “green” products, but also to use alternative energy sources at home, join social and community campaigns, and participate in decision-making on sustainable development issues at the local level.
Researcher Marina Psaros (Atlantic Council) believes that it is games that create a safe space for discussing complex issues and finding solutions that are not yet available in traditional political discussions. She emphasizes that responsibility for change cannot be shifted solely to the consumer—the industry must change the rules of the game itself.
The question of the future role of gamers in protecting the climate remains open. Will games become a real bridge between virtual actions and real-world transformations? Will the next generation of players be able to contribute to the fight against the climate crisis? The answer to this challenge depends on both the industry and each player.
