From Pixels to Planet: How Game Makers Strive for Planetary Impact Beyond the Magic Circle

Abstract

Game developers are leveraging their medium as a tool for planetary change, challenging traditional paradigms that separate play from real-world impact. Based on ethnographic research with European developers, this study examines how bottom-up initiatives are reshaping game design and production through sustainable practices. We explore games' dual nature as both environmentally impactful products and tools for ecological engagement. The research reveals developers' intrinsic motivations to address climate challenges through creative practice while confronting the industry's material footprint. By investigating these paradoxes, the study advances understanding of game development as a culturally significant force capable of driving social and environmental change in our climate crisis era.