As the gaming industry continues to grow, so does its potential to inspire real-world change. This blog post is about two talks that were held at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2022.
Hunter Bulkeley from Tilting Point and Arnaud Fayolle from Ubisoft – showcased how the gaming world can effectively address climate issues. Bulkeley’s talk, Good Deeds Through Games: Integrating Features to Address Climate Change, and Fayolle’s presentation, Climate Game Toolkit for Content Creators, present compelling strategies for how games can help combat climate change, from embedding eco-friendly features directly into gameplay to influencing players‘ real-world actions. This blogpost explores how games can integrate climate-friendly initiatives and why doing so is beneficial not only to our environment but also to the gaming industry itself.
Bulkeley’s approach at Tilting Point demonstrates a practical and innovative way to integrate climate action directly into gameplay. Focusing on TerraGenesis, a mobile game themed around planetary development, Bulkeley describes how the team introduced a feature allowing players to contribute to reforestation efforts. Since the feature’s launch, TerraGenesis has enabled the planting of over 500,000 trees across several countries, proving that a well-aligned game feature can make a tangible environmental impact.
This concept is a step beyond simple in-game donations, it’s about embedding purpose into the gameplay itself. Players get to experience a sense of agency, knowing that their actions in-game have a real-world effect. Bulkeley stresses that choosing the right cause and a trustworthy partner, such as Tilting Point’s partner Ecology, is essential. Ecology’s role ensures that each player-driven contribution is fully traceable and impactful, aligning player actions with measurable environmental change. By pairing thematic elements of TerraGenesis with a reforestation initiative, the game creates a unique bridge between virtual and real worlds.
Arnaud Fayolle’s insights into how games can inspire cultural shifts underscore the potential of game narratives to build a sustainable mindset. Fayolle discusses games that use storytelling to raise awareness, such as Never Alone, which highlights the struggles of Indigenous peoples, or Horizon Zero Dawn, where environmental themes are central to the story. These narratives allow players to grapple with environmental challenges in a context that fosters empathy and understanding.
Through their ability to visualize potential futures, games can drive meaningful change in players’ attitudes toward the environment. For example, games like Plasticity showcase the devastating impacts of pollution, while Stardew Valley reconnects players with nature and promotes sustainable living. By immersing players in such narratives, developers can inspire players to adopt real-world eco-conscious behaviors.
Making a real-world impact with in-game actions
Both Bulkeley and Fayolle recognize that games can do more than just tell stories about climate change – they can encourage players to take direct actions. In TerraGenesis, Bulkeley’s team found that players responded positively to opportunities to support reforestation simply by engaging with the game’s ecosystem. This engagement not only promoted environmental good but also increased ad engagement within the app, suggesting that players are more likely to participate in charitable actions when they involve time, rather than direct monetary contributions.
Similarly, Fayolle emphasizes the power of repeated in-game calls to action. In The Sims 4: Eco Lifestyle, players can build eco-friendly homes and see their neighborhoods transform based on their decisions, effectively modeling how individual actions contribute to larger environmental outcomes. This game mechanic primes players to consider similar actions in their own lives, fostering behavioral change that transcends the virtual world.
More sustainable designs across the Gaming Ecosystem
One key aspect of Fayolle’s Climate Game Toolkit is a focus on sustainable game production itself. Game studios, marketing teams, and hardware manufacturers all have a role to play in reducing the environmental footprint of games. Fayolle points out that by optimizing code and offering power-saving modes, games like Subway Surfers and Genshin Impact minimize energy consumption, reducing their environmental impact. These optimizations, though behind the scenes, can make a significant difference when scaled across millions of players.
Fayolle’s insights into graphic sobriety are also critical here. Games like Breath of the Wild and Team Fortress 2 achieve beautiful aesthetics with minimal resource use, demonstrating that impressive visuals don’t need to be energy-intensive. By optimizing textures and educating players on the environmental impact of high graphic settings, developers can help create a more sustainable gaming experience. This approach not only reduces power consumption but can also educate players on making eco-friendly choices in their gaming settings.
Motivating change and building resilience
Both Bulkeley and Fayolle highlight that games can foster emotional resilience, another essential component in the face of climate challenges. Games like Spiritfarer and A Short Hike create narratives that normalize sustainable behaviors and emotional resilience, reinforcing these habits in players’ lives. Fayolle points out that behavioral transference from game to reality is a powerful tool. Dishonored, for example, promotes non-violent conflict resolution, while 80 Days subtly critiques consumerism, challenging players to think more critically about their real-world habits.
The idea is that by repeatedly experiencing these scenarios in games, players may adopt similar habits in real life. This principle is further exemplified by simulation games like Plague Inc. and Fate of the World, which use real-world science to model complex systems and long-term environmental consequences. By interacting with these systems in a virtual space, players gain an understanding of the interconnectedness of human actions and the natural world, potentially fostering a more climate-conscious mindset.
As both Bulkeley and Fayolle conclude, the gaming industry holds immense potential for influencing positive environmental change. Bulkeley urges developers to consider features that align with players’ interests and values, emphasizing that such initiatives can remain profitable when integrated thoughtfully. Meanwhile, Fayolle stresses that each facet of game development – from studio operations to game design – has a role to play in creating a sustainable industry.
By designing games that not only entertain but also educate and inspire, developers have the chance to engage players in meaningful climate action. The Climate Game Toolkit provides a robust framework for implementing these principles, empowering developers to leverage the cultural power of games to promote environmental sustainability.
Link to the Video Good Deeds Through Games: Integrating Features to Address Climate Change: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYs7JwmgC7I
Link to the Video Climate Game Toolkit for Content Creator (GDC2022): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaEAyeW-UlU
Gaming for the planet alliance: https://www.playing4theplanet.org/