Timor-Leste is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, yet also


one of the most vulnerable. Funds raised through Battle for the Habitats will support long-term habitat restoration, biodiversity protection and community-led conservation. This is not a short-term intervention, but a commitment to sustained stewardship, verified impact and accountability. For players too, biodiversity is intuitive. Games are worlds. Ecosystems.


Systems of balance and consequence. Protecting habitats is something players already understand instinctively. And through Play2Act, our in-game research initiative developed with


the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), one finding stands out above all others: 79% of players who experienced environmental content in games went on to make greener lifestyle choices in real life. That is not theory. It is evidence. It shows that when sustainability is


embedded into gameplay not bolted on as an afterthought games do more than inform players; they inspire action.


AN INVITATION TO THE INDUSTRY As an industry, we’re no strangers to big challenges. We’ve navigated rapid growth, financial contraction, technological upheaval and shifting player expectations. Often all at once. Yet amid this turbulence, one thing has become increasingly clear: video games are cultural platforms with unmatched reach, capable of driving real-world behaviour change at global scale. Battle for the Habitats is part of a broader shift. Initiatives such as the


Playing for the Planet Alliance, the Sustainable Games Alliance, and academic programmes like the EU-funded GREAT Project are helping studios reduce emissions, improve production practices, and better understand how games influence attitudes and behaviour. PlanetPlay’s role is complementary. We focus on turning player


engagement into direct funding for verified biodiversity and environmental projects, while strengthening not disrupting core game experiences. The lesson from recent years is that sustainability in games works best


are full, and live-ops calendars are packed. Battle for the Habitats has been designed with those constraints in mind. Studios and publishers can participate at a level that suits their


resources and goals, including: • Amplifying the campaign via social media, PR or community channels


• Using PlanetPlay’s ready-made art assets and messaging in-game • Offering optional DLC, in-game items, bundles or challenges that raise funds


Participation is intentionally plug-and-play. There are no heavy development lifts and no one-size-fits-all model. Indie studios and global publishers can take part on equal footing.


WHY BIODIVERSITY – AND WHY TIMOR-LESTE Biodiversity is deeply connected and protecting it is just as urgent as any other global emergency. Healthy ecosystems absorb carbon, protect communities and support livelihoods. When habitats collapse, everything else follows.


when it is collaborative. Battle for the Habitats is an invitation to the games industry. An


invitation to studios who want to engage their communities around purpose without compromising creativity. An invitation to publishers seeking measurable, credible biodiversity


impact. And an invitation to an industry that reaches 3.3 billion players worldwide to use that reach responsibly and imaginatively. If 2025 was the year the games industry proved it could make a


difference, 2026 must be the year we scale it. Biodiversity cannot wait. Players are ready. The tools exist. At PlanetPlay, we will


continue to do what we do best: make it easy for games to make green moves. We hope you will join us in the Battle for the Habitats and help make 2026 the year the games industry showed what it is truly capable of.


PlanetPlay is a not-for-profit platform that empowers gamers worldwide to contribute to biodiversity protection and environmental action through in- game purchases and gameplay with affiliated game studios. Find out more at partners. planetplay.com


December/January 2026 MCV/DEVELOP | 51


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