As an extension of the annual awards to recognize participants of the Green Game Jam, Playing for the Planet will this year widen its focus to include the achievements of the games industry in the field of sustainability within 2023 and 2024.
The new Playing for the Planet Awards, under which the Green Game Jam will sit, aims to celebrate the work of the games industry towards decarbonisation and sustainability in the practice of making and distributing games; efforts to integrate and promote green storytelling within the games themselves; and leadership on the topic of environmental action among individuals and studios.
Who can apply?
The Awards are open to any team, studio or individual in the games industry. We ask that for games, activations and technical innovations that the project was released (or other metric of completion) in 2023 or 2024. For studios and individuals, we ask nominators to consider work primarily completed in 2023 and 2024 as part of this answer.
You do not have to be a member of Playing for the Planet in order to apply for these awards.
We welcome applications from all types of games including mobile, PC, console and VR. For each category, we aim to keep the criteria broad enough to encourage a wide range of game teams to apply.
How do I apply?
Please apply using this form. You may skip to the award you would like to apply for using the navigation system in the first section. Details of the awards are as follows:
Best Purpose-Driven Game
We define 'purpose-driven games' as games that focus on environmental themes (eg climate, nature, pollution) and that are designed for securing engagement on these themes as primary purpose instead of having purpose as a byproduct of pure entertainment. This category celebrates a purpose-driven game that is engaging, impactful and successful in its aims.
Best Green Activation
We define a 'green activation' as an element that is added into a game or associated platform (eg. social media) designed to engage a live game's audience on an environmental theme. A green activation can be anything ranging from a time limited event, to a new level, to a marketing campaign.
The Green Game Jam incentivizes the development of green activations and supports studios in their delivery. However, naturally many studios build green activations year round outside of the main programme.
This category is designed to celebrate these activations that are not part of the Green Game Jam but still deserve recognition as excellent work.
Best Green Tech
This Award celebrates the game that has most effectively integrated energy efficiency optimisations within their game(s). It recognizes efforts that have led to a positive environmental impact without significantly compromising gamer experience or degrading gameplay fidelity.
We are particularly interested in innovative ideas that save energy, whether on mobile, PC, or console upstream so that through these adjustments, there are macro benefits beyond one game.
Changemaker Award
This award recognizes the collective efforts of studio in integrating eco-friendly practices, raising environmental awareness and collaborating with others to inspire positive change within the games community.
Please consider work primarily completed in 2023 and 2024 as part of this answer.
Champion Award
This Award celebrates an individual who has demonstrated excellent leadership within the games industry on environmental sustainability.
Please consider work primarily completed in 2023 and 2024 as part of this answer.
Who can apply?
Whilst the Playing for the Planet Awards will incorporate awards to celebrate the participants of the Green Game Jam, categories 1-3 are open to any team or individual in the games industry with a relevant project that was released or otherwise completed in 2023 or 2024.
For categories 4-5, we ask applicants to consider work by an individual or studio primarily completed in 2023 or 2024.
You do not have to be a member of Playing for the Planet in order to apply for these awards.
Studios who participated in the Green Game Jam 2023 or who are currently participating in the Green Game Jam 2024 are permitted to apply. However, these studios are not permitted to submit their entries to the Green Game Jam for 2023 or 2024 to the Best Green Activation Award.
We welcome applications from all types of games including mobile, PC, console and VR. For each category, we aim to keep the criteria broad enough to encourage a wide range of game teams to apply.
What happens if I win?
The winners will be announced on Monday 18th November at a small ceremony in Helsinki. Winners will receive:
Applications close on Friday 4th October.
If you have any questions please email louisa.keight@playing4theplanet.org
