The Annual Impact Report for 2023 from Playing for the Planet has revealed that more than $700,000 was raised during the year's Green Game Jam. Half of the alliance's gaming members successfully met their commitments, while the remaining members made at least partial progress toward their sustainability goals, whether through reducing carbon footprints, integrating green initiatives into games, or supporting colleagues in their sustainability endeavors. Additionally, five new organizations joined the alliance in 2023, expanding awareness of Playing for the Planet within the gaming community and inspiring action at events worldwide, including Pocket Gamer Connects.

Since its establishment in 2019, Playing for the Planet has grown to encompass 34 major gaming companies and 10 trade associations. The organization's commitment to climate preservation continued in 2023, with a focus on decarbonizing the games industry. The Green Game Jam for 2023 saw 40 games entered, each dedicated to protecting the ecosystems of harlequin toads in the Amazon, snow leopards in the Himalayas, and manta rays in the Western Indian Ocean.

The top performers of the year were Supercell's Boom Beach, Wooga's June's Journey, and Outfit7's My Talking Angela 2, recognized for their effective integration of the year's environmental themes into gameplay. With a combined total of 85 million daily active users across the 40 games, over $700,000 was raised for the three endangered species and their habitats – enough to fund more than 56,000 hours of conservation work.

Partnering with Milkywire, Playing for the Planet selected eight organizations to distribute these funds to, including ProPurús, Atelopus Survival Initiative (Re:wild), Gaia Amazones, International Cryosphere Climate Initiative, Snow Leopard Trust, CORDIO East Africa, Marine Megafauna Foundation, and Love the Oceans.

Tommi Lappalainen, Senior Manager of Sustainability at Rovio, praised Playing for the Planet as a unifying force for environmental awareness within the gaming industry. Similarly, Greg Gobbi, Chief Creative Officer of Amazon Games, expressed honor in joining the alliance and reiterated the company's commitment to sustainability.

Looking ahead to 2024, Playing for the Planet has opened the Green Game Jam to all studios, aiming for a 25% increase in membership and exploring the potential applications of AI in driving further environmental change.

Source: adapted from an article by Aaron Astle, News Editor for PocketGamer.biz.