LET’S MAKE 2026 THE GAMES INDUSTRY’S GREENEST YEAR YET


As the industry looks ahead to 2026, PlanetPlay CEO Rhea Loucas gathers the opinions of peers to assert that games don’t just entertain; they can help save the planet…


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s 2025 draws to a close, it’s impossible to ignore that this has been one of the most difficult years our industry has ever faced. Studios have closed,


talented teams have been displaced, and the economic realities of a changing landscape have tested even the most resilient businesses. Yet, amidst myriad challenges, our community has


continued to move forward when it comes to ESG and CSR, proving that creativity and conscience can thrive even in adversity. I’m filled with optimism about how far we’ve come collectively in driving environmental action, and how much further we can go in 2026 by harnessing our collective imagination, innovation and global reach for good. At PlanetPlay, we believe that the games


community has a unique power: 3.3 billion players united by imagination, connected through shared worlds, and capable of making real-world impact when given the chance. This year, that belief has been proven time and again. In 2025 alone, we saw the first Green Games Showcase


at Summer Game Fest: an unprecedented moment that raised $150,000 to plant 50,000 trees in Timor-Leste


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Sam Barratt – Chief of the Youth, Education & Advocacy Unit at the UN Environment Programme &


Playing for the Planet 50 | MCV/DEVELOP October/November 2025


hile the politics might have changed, the science and concern of citizens around the growing impact of climate change hasn’t.


Encouragingly, recent editions of the Green Game Jam saw titles like PUBG and Honor of Kings achieve strong engagement, showing that studios who do lean in on environmental themes are meeting their players in the middle. The numbers aren’t small either, these games are


played by billions of players. While a lot more needs to be done, we remain encouraged by the leadership in many parts of this industry acting towards more


with our partners at WithOneSeed. Our ongoing ‘Make Green Moves’ campaign has continued to turn in-game activations into real-world climate projects, delivering over $2.2 million in funding for verified environmental initiatives since launch. And our global Play2Act survey (see MCV/Develop


June/July for the results), run with the United Nations Development Programme, has shown that 79% of players who experienced environmental content in games went on to make greener lifestyle changes in real life. It’s proof that when sustainability is integrated into


gameplay it inspires action. But the work is far from done. We’re just scratching the


surface of what’s possible when the world’s most creative industry aligns its power, platforms and players around purpose in a spirit of collaboration. The truth is that we’re not alone. Across academia,


non-profits, and industry leaders, there’s a growing wave of momentum in the belief that games can be a defining force for environmental transformation. So, what gives others across our sector


environmental hope for 2026? I asked a few inspiring peers to share their perspectives…


positive environmental impact both upstream on platforms and engines, and downstream in the games that people play every day. Beyond games, we’re also seeing interest and


momentum from other cultural domains. Music now has its own Climate Pact, sports are coming together on initiatives for both climate and nature, and films and TV have always been at the cutting edge of building these themes into their stories. Engaging and reaching people where they are through the channels, shows, games and heroes that they love is not rocket science, people need rhymes to go with reasons.


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