Roundtable: Integrating Ecological Choices in Game Development

How can game developers make more ecologically responsible choices—and what gets in the way?

Ecological considerations are increasingly relevant to the games industry, but turning good intentions into practice is not always straightforward. Environmental ambitions can come into tension with production budgets, technical requirements, deadlines, and established ways of working.

AGENDA

05:00 PM

Can game development become more sustainable?

What does sustainability mean for the games industry? Three presentations: State of sustainability in the games industry (Jonathan Skjøtt), our research into games about sustainability (Thomas Bjørner), designing ecological choices (Colin Hubert)

05:30 PM

Experiencing ecological choices

Play Emissions Bargainator, a game exploring the decisions that shape the environmental impact of game development. Work together, weigh competing priorities, and discover where ecological ambitions meet practical trade-offs.

06:00 PM

Pizza & planetary conversations

Grab a slice and discuss the choices and trade-offs you made in-game. Which choices felt straightforward? Which were difficult? Discuss what makes more sustainable approaches possible—or challenging—in real development settings.

06:30 PM

Feasibility mapping and reflections

Work with other participants to identify promising ecological decisions, explore the barriers that prevent them from being implemented, and suggest ways to overcome those barriers. We'll share key insights and possible next steps together.

No prior knowledge of sustainability is required. Game developers, designers, researchers, students, and anyone curious about the environmental future of games are welcome.