Title (eng)
Game Makers against the Climate Apocalypse. Corporate Sustainability, Local Action, and Planetary Care in Game Development
Description (eng)
Depleting planetary resources, environmental collapse, and the threat of a climate apocalypse are increasingly popular in video games. Game makers often introduce these eco-themes through bottom-up processes, using game narratives, mechanics, and design to convey ecological messages, shift cultural values, and promote social change. Paradoxically, even green-themed games contribute to environmental harm due to extensive global value chains, precarious labour conditions, and resource-intensive technologies. Drawing on the practical expertise of industry practitioners, this research critically examines the socio-material and environmental implications of game production at the intersection of extractivist logic, market demands, and sustainability frameworks.
The paper explores complementary strategies of corporate and grassroots efforts to fight the climate apocalypse within the game industry. Corporate initiatives often require quantified metrics and financial incentives, yet the lack of standardised emissions data and industry-wide standards complicates meaningful sustainability transitions. In contrast, bottom-up initiatives adopt a care-driven approach that prioritises both planetary and human well-being. Their local strategies address planetary entanglements and extend beyond ecological concerns to challenge dominant industry norms of competition and burnout. These collaborative, action-oriented sustainability efforts reveal the potential to inspire change, drive a green transition, and envision more sustainable futures for the game industry.
This research is part of the Horizon Europe project STRATEGIES – Sustainable Transition for Europe’s Game Industries, collaborating with European studios and NGOs to explore the knowledge, skills, and challenges shaping green game-making, fostering a critical discussion on sustainability in game development.
Keywords (eng)
Green GameGame DesignGame ProductionDigital MaterialitySustainability
Type (eng)
Language
[eng]
Persistent identifier
Is contained in
Title
Gaming the Apocalypse
ISBN
978-3-903470-30-9
Publication
University of Krems Press
Publication
University of Krems Press
Date issued
2025-11-14
License
- Citable links
- Content
- RightsLicense
- Details
- Usage statistics--
- This object is in collection
- Metadata
- Export formats