06:00, 14 May 2025
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
New research shows that gaming attitudes have shifted towards more “greener” options.
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A groundbreaking new survey, Play2Act, has shown that video games with environmental themes aren’t just about entertainment, but they’re inspiring meaningful change among players.
Developed by not-for-profit organisation PlanetPlay in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Play2Act polled over 180,000 players across 189 countries, embedding questions within 24 hit titles such as Subway Surfers, Pokémon GO!, and Avakin Life.
A staggering 79% of gamers exposed to green-themed gameplay reported adopting at least one eco-friendly habit in their real lives.
Nearly half of these players reduced their environmental impact through changes in energy use or travel habits, while others made more sustainable consumption choices. With the games reaching a collective audience of 80 million players weekly, the results are enormous.
The gaming industry has long been criticised for its carbon footprint and is now showing signs of becoming part of the solution. With support from giants like Microsoft, Unity, and Niantic, and backing from EU-funded projects, the Play2Act initiative shows that games can be more than passive activities.
This survey is part of the ‘Games Realising Effective and Affective Transformation (GREAT)’ project which aims to highlight the climate and nature crises by using games as a platform to drive social engagement.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
PlanetPlay. This is a not-for-profit platform that empowers gamers worldwide to contribute to environmental action through in-game purchases and gameplay. Learn more here.
Games for Good. This company uses games for social impact and supports clients in leveraging parts of their business for social good. Support them here.
The Green Web Foundation. This is an independent nonprofit that advocates for fossil-free internet by 2030. Find out more here.
This article aligns with the UN SDG Climate Action, Partnerships For The Goals.
