An innovative new fundraising campaign is asking gamers to pick up their controllers and lock-in for a marathon session to raise money for climate projects.
Some of the biggest video game developers in the world are backing non-profit PC games marketplace PlanetPlay’s Battle for the Habitats initiative, which begins today — 22nd April — and will run until World Environment Day on 5th June.
Anyone can get involved in the cause by heading to a dedicated website and picking either Team Rainforest or Team Reef. Once that’s done, simply buy a title or two from the selected range of games, all of which are discounted as part of the campaign, and net profits will go to Oceana or the Rainforest Alliance, depending on which side you chose. One-off donations of $5 can also be made, meanwhile any in-app purchases made within the games themselves will contribute to fundraising, too.
There is also widespread hope for triggering some behavioural changes. Although the games included in the campaign are not necessarily tied to climate issues, PlanetPlay’s own Play2Act research platform, developed with the United Nations Development Programme, has shown 79% of players who are exposed to environmental content within games go on to make greener and more sustainable lifestyle choices.
The overall aim is to raise $1 million over the next six weeks, with a number of high profile faces helping spread the message. For example, Briana White (the voice of Aerith in the remake of Final Fantasy 7) and Maximilian Dood, the world’s foremost fighting game streamer who claims combined views across YouTube and Twitch of almost 1.5 billion. Meanwhile, companies such as Capcom, SEGA, Dovetail Games, FuturLab, Crytek, Nekki Games, Mindscape, Funcom, Lockwood, and Fusebox are also involved.
‘Biodiversity loss and climate change are already affecting farmers and forest communities around the world,’ said Jon Frank, Director of Global Corporate and Celebrity Partnerships at Oceana. ‘Partnerships like this help turn global energy into practical solutions on the ground, from restoring degraded landscapes to supporting sustainable livelihoods. When industries use their platforms to mobilise people at scale, the impact can be transformative, accelerating forest protection and strengthening livelihoods in the places that need it most.’
Image: PlanetPlay
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