Green Game Jam 2025

WHAT IS THE GREEN GAME JAM?

An annual challenge where games studios are asked to implement environmentally themed content into their live games with existing audiences with the goal to empower players to take action for the environment whilst playing their favorite games.

At Playing for the Planet, we call environmentally themed content like this a “green activation”. These green activations can be anything from a time-limited event, to a new character skin, to a social media campaign as long as they prompt players to learn, engage and/or act for the planet.

Applications to join the Green Game Jam are now closed, but you can find out more about how we judge our awards by following the link below.

find out more about the green game awards 2025

WE NEED NATURE

Nature is critical for all life on earth. The rich web of ecosystems that make up the natural world are vital for clean air, fresh water, medicines, fuel sources, food security and even climate stability.

200 MILLION

people around the world depend on coral reefs to protect against flooding

Living Planet Report 2024

2.6 BILLION

tonnes of CO2 are removed from the atmosphere by forests alone, with nature responsible for 1/3 of global climate change mitigation efforts.

PNAS, Natural Climate Solutions

75%

of global crops rely on the continued survival of bees and other pollinators

FAO United Nations, Why Bees Matter

$125 TRILLION

the estimated value of services nature provides annually, from farming and forestry to leisure and tourism

Living Planet Report 2024

NATURE IS IN DANGER

We are using the equivalent of 1.6 Earths to maintain our current way of life and ecosystems cannot keep up with our demands. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, an estimated 720 to 811 million people suffered from hunger in 2020 and according to UN Water, 2.3 billion people in 2021 lived in water-stressed areas. By 2030, people are set to place more resource demands on the planet, be it water from our rivers or food from land, which is likely to further deteriorate the health of natural ecosystems on earth.

75%

of the earth’s land surface has been damaged by human activity

Worldwide Land Degradation and Restoration Assessment Report, IPBES

15%

of the earth’s land surface has been damaged by human activity

Protected Planet Report 2020

ONE MILLION

of the planet’s estimated 8 million species are threatened with extinction

Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, IPBES

66%

of the ocean area has been damaged by human activity

Worldwide Land Degradation and Restoration Assessment Report, IPBES

8%

of the ocean area is protected from human activity

Protected Planet Report 2020

90%

of the world’s marine fish stocks are fully exploited, overexploited or depleted

Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, IPBES

BUT THERE IS HOPE

195 country governments recently agreed a new Global Biodiversity Framework that has a range of targets in support of nature. One of them is 30x30 which seeks to protect 30% of the natural world by 2030.

However, with five years left to go, the main barrier to achieving most conservation goals is money - and here’s where you come in.

Find out more about 30 × 30

THE JOURNEY

The pathway that your studio and your players will take together, using your games to inspire high-impact, measurable change.

BUILD AN ACTIVATION

This can be any kind of experience that engages players on the topic of nature and motivates them to want to do something about it.

campaigning for nature

CALL PLAYERS TO ACTION

Studios direct players to the campaign landing page and encourage them to join players around the world in leaving a message of support for nature.

the outcome

If we reach 100,000 statements of support for nature on the campaign page, the results will be presented to policy makers who care about video games as well as nature through a visual representation of the campaign's scale.

raise money for nature

Studios build a fundraising element into their activation. They can use community goals and donation matching, pledging a percentage of sales of a title or a new IAP or experience - or any other way they can think of to raise money.

nurture yourself

with nature

WHAT IS THE GREEN GAME JAM?

WE NEED NATURE

Nature is critical for all life on earth. The rich web of ecosystems that make up the natural world are vital for clean air, fresh water, medicines, fuel sources, food security and even climate stability.

200 MILLION

people around the world depend on coral reefs to protect against flooding

Living Planet Report 2024

2.6 BILLION

tonnes of CO2 are removed from the atmosphere by forests alone, with nature responsible for 1/3 of global climate change mitigation efforts.

PNAS, Natural Climate Solutions

75%

of global crops rely on the continued survival of bees and other pollinators

FAO United Nations, Why Bees Matter

$125 TRILLION

the estimated value of services nature provides annually, from farming and forestry to leisure and tourism

Living Planet Report 2024

NATURE IS IN DANGER

75%

of the earth’s land surface has been damaged by human activity

Worldwide Land Degradation and Restoration Assessment Report, IPBES

15%

of the earth’s land surface has been damaged by human activity

Protected Planet Report 2020

ONE MILLION

of the planet’s estimated 8 million species are threatened with extinction

Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, IPBES

66%

of the ocean area has been damaged by human activity

Worldwide Land Degradation and Restoration Assessment Report, IPBES

8%

of the ocean area is protected from human activity

Protected Planet Report 2020

90%

of the world’s marine fish stocks are fully exploited, overexploited or depleted

Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, IPBES

BUT THERE IS HOPE

THE JOURNEY

The pathway that your studio and your players will take together, using your games to inspire high-impact, measurable change.

BUILD AN ACTIVATION

This can be any kind of experience that engages players on the topic of nature and motivates them to want to do something about it.

campaigning for nature

CALL PLAYERS TO ACTION

Studios direct players to the campaign landing page and encourage them to join players around the world in leaving a message of support for nature.

the outcome

If we reach 100,000 statements of support for nature on the campaign page, the results will be presented to policy makers who care about video games as well as nature through a visual representation of the campaign's scale.

raise money for nature

Studios build a fundraising element into their activation. They can use community goals and donation matching, pledging a percentage of sales of a title or a new IAP or experience - or any other way they can think of to raise money.

Participants2025‍‍

THIS YEAR’S TIMELINE

January

Studio Signup

Febuary

Kick-off Event and Insight Sessions

march

April – May

Development Period

June

Go-Live Date

SEPTEMBER

Awards Event

Participants
2025
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