Sustainable Gaming: How the Industry is Adopting Eco-Friendly Practices
The global gaming industry is a powerful force for social good, engaging millions of people across the globe and helping to educate and inspire action on pressing environmental issues. While gaming isn’t usually viewed as an ESG-compatible sector, with the right approach, it has immense potential to make the world a better place.
However, like any industry, the gaming sector has its own unique impacts on the environment. From the energy demands of game consoles and devices, to the emissions of gaming centres and servers, and to the physical production of games, there are many opportunities for the gaming industry to reduce its environmental impact and become more Sustainable Gaming.
In recent years, a wave of environmental activism has emerged in the gaming community and beyond. As a result, gaming companies are increasingly seeking to align themselves with sustainability values and engage gamers on environmental issues through their products and services.
Video games can be used to address a wide variety of environmental concerns, from climate change and biodiversity loss, through to urban planning and sustainable development. There are even games that simulate the effects of climate change, such as Grow Home, which features a clumsy robot fighting to preserve natural resources.
Despite their often hefty carbon footprints, gaming devices and consoles are becoming more sustainable. Thanks to the digital distribution of many games, consumers don’t need to travel to purchase or play them, reducing congestion and fuel use. Additionally, many games are based on the internet, meaning they can be played remotely, further reducing their environmental impact.
On the production side, the gaming industry can reduce its carbon footprint by switching to renewable energy sources to power data centres and servers that support online gaming. These energy sources are cleaner and more cost-effective than fossil fuels, and their adoption by gaming companies will significantly reduce their environmental footprint.
The gaming industry can also cut its waste by minimising the amount of physical product it produces and focusing on digital distribution channels instead of physical media and packaging. In addition, the industry can make its products more eco-friendly by incorporating environmental themes into gameplay and encouraging players to take real-life actions that contribute to a healthier planet.
Finally, the gaming industry can make its games more environmentally friendly by incorporating green gamification, which uses advanced engagement techniques to motivate and reward positive behaviours. This can be done through a range of initiatives, including games that promote the use of public transport or bicycles as a means of travelling to and from games events; or by using green gamification to drive energy savings in real-life homes. However, it’s essential that these initiatives are designed for continuity and durability over time to truly make a difference.
