2025-05-11
At PlanetPlay, we believe games have the power not only to entertain – but to educate, inspire, and mobilise. That belief is at the heart of Play2Act, our global in-game research initiative created in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to explore how games can influence attitudes and actions around climate and nature.
Now, we’re excited to share the first results from the study – and they’re game-changing.
79% of gamers who played games with environmental content said they made at least one positive lifestyle change as a result.
These changes include reducing energy usage and choosing more sustainable transport (47%), and making greener consumption choices (34%).
This powerful data proves what we’ve long believed: when sustainability is embedded in gameplay, it doesn’t just inform, it inspires action.
To see more Play2Act findings, visit https://planetplay.com/undp-results.
What is Play2Act?
Launched in September 2024, Play2Act is an in-game poll embedded within some of the world’s most popular games, including Subway Surfers, Beatstar, Pokémon GO!, and Avakin Life.
Through this format, we’ve been able to reach and engage 181,000+ players across 189 countries, 70 of which are Least Developed Countries (LDCs) or Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
With a combined reach of 80 million players per week, Play2Act is now the largest study of its kind – gathering insights on how players feel about the environment, and how green games influence real-world behaviour.
20 Studios & Platforms. 1 Shared Mission.
The Play2Act initiative has been made possible thanks to the support of 20 pioneering studios and platforms, including Actrio, Bandai Namco, CM Games, E-Line Media, Futurevision, Funplus, Hutch, Jagex, Lockwood, Microsoft/Xbox Insider, Niantic, Outplay, Reliance, Rovio, Space Ape Games, SYBO, Ten Square Games, Trailmix, Tripledot and Unity.
Together, we’re demonstrating that the global games industry is ready to lead the way on environmental impact.
Driving Policy, Awareness & Impact
Play2Act also contributes to the GREAT (Games Realising Effective and Affective Transformation) project, and is supported by the EU Horizon and UKRI, to explore how games can help solve the climate and nature crises.
UNDP will use Play2Act findings to support global sustainability dialogue, especially among youth and in the Global South.
Thank you to every studio, player and partner helping us turn gameplay into planet-positive action.
To read more about Play2Act and its results, visit https://planetplay.com/undp-results.
To get involved, visit partners.planetplay.com.